riverside_the_curated podcast intro _ feb 6, 2025 001_the_lopes photograp

The Hey, hey everyone, Savannah here with the Curated Podcast by The Lodge Photography. Here you can find interviews with ones in the wedding industry, creative entrepreneurs and other photographers, videographers, some hot takes, tips for brides and grooms, other creatives to learn from, as well as just all the things that we've learned along the way. Basically we cover it all. So this is your go-to podcast. Welcome. Hi. How are you? Good. How are you? I'm having tea. I hope you don't mind. It's 4.30 over here. Some, you know, we'll do it for tea. You've got to have your afternoon cuppa, right? Absolutely. And sorry for the setup. This time is where the sun starts to set over here in Warsaw. With one lamp, like some, like, accent lighting, hoping that you're going to be able to hear me. No, it's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. 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It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. So, for example, in our international wedding planning community, in the wedding industry, is the very clear distinction that I like to make, and it is what feels like luxury, and this is very subjective, and what actually is luxury, what falls into the category of luxury product, luxury service, luxury budget, luxury price tag. So, the example that I like to give here is, let's take a car. So, for some people, the mere fact of having a car is a luxury, while for other people, it is more about the type of car that they are having. So, what feels like a luxury, as I said, this is something that is personal. So, to some people, it's going to be outsourcing the things that they don't have the time for, or outsourcing things that they don't enjoy doing. To other people, the mere fact of having a wedding planner, that is already luxury, and that is all is subjective. To all of us, I think, you know, us, being women, we can always say that a lot of hours of sleep, this is a luxury that helps us look beautiful and radiant and in our best selves. So, what is luxury to you that is subjective? While what falls into the category of luxury product, luxury service, this is something that we can't really argue with. It is a quite strict category. So, speaking of that category, when we're talking about luxury weddings, obviously, one defining characteristic of what luxury is, is the quality. And I think this is where we should start. Quality is really what is going to define a luxury wedding. And this is the quality of suppliers, the quality of the venue, materials, craftsmanship, all of that falls into that category of luxury. Now, what is relaxed luxury? I think what draws people into that is, and what that actually is, is this ease of it. It's that the whole world relaxed. It's making it seem as if it is just so. It's, you know, oh, I woke up like this. It's this effortless feel. No makeup, makeup. Exactly, no makeup, makeup. You know, I just woke up like, oh, my hair is always like this, you know. Oh, my God, I didn't touch it at all. I feel like what draws people in is this feel of ease. And while we had years and years of understanding luxury weddings as something that is very out there, and this is still very much happening. Many people choose to have weddings like that. We can think of some celebrity wedding that would fall into that category where they have massive displays and everything is very big and very out there. Well, I feel relaxed luxury is less about the wow factor. It's about being very intentional with where we put that attention, where we draw guests' attention. It's about creating a journey. And I think to best describe relaxed luxury, I love to use an example of Marie Antoinette and I have to apologize to all French-speaking people because my French does not exist, but her chateau, Le Petit Trianon. So it was kind of a fantasy of a cottage in a countryside. But if anyone knows anything about Marie Antoinette, she wouldn't be going to pick up the eggs from chickens. It was beautifully shown in Sofia Coppola's movie when her maid would go and clean the eggs so they were just beautiful, pristine eggs before she picked them up. So it's this kind of relaxed cottage feeling. It's just beautiful. It's so cool. Nothing is really happening here, but there's a lot of work and a lot of intention behind it. And I think this is what is the relaxed luxury. So I feel people, brides, grooms, people who are drawn to that aesthetic, they appreciate the quality. They understand that quality really is what makes the difference and that comes with, more often than not, with a luxury price tag. It is making it still feel effortless and not intimidating. So we want it to be an inviting space for people. We want this to be, again, we can use this word gazillion times, it's just relaxed experience for the guests and for the couple. So I feel it all centers around the word ease, as if it's not too stressed. Everyone is not, oh my God, what do we do now? There is this shot that we have to have. There is this part of the event. It's more about the experience and just leaning into the experience of the day and treating it as, you know, just another afternoon. We just got married and everything was perfect. I love that. I love that. I think that was super helpful for many who have been wondering or even considering this for themselves, you know. So thank you so, so much. It will be exciting for ones later who haven't heard to be able to listen to all that. You guys should probably write that all down. So then for you as well, what are some non-negotiable things for you to be able to plan to relax while you're wedding and to not compromise in quality, et cetera? So I would say non-negotiables. I would say it's setting right priorities. And by right, I don't mean that some are better than the others, but it is for the couple to prioritize certain things over others. It's having a very clear vision. And obviously your planner is also there to help you refine that vision. But having a very good understanding of what it is that you're looking for and where do you see that wedding and that budget, wedding budget, because let's not kid ourselves. This is what we're discussing when we're discussing wedding planning. We're discussing budget. So the way I like to look at it is through the lens of what your priorities are. For some, this is going to be the entertainment and photography. For others, it's going to be the details like stationery and flowers. Everyone has, I always ask my couples as well, to name two to three priorities. What would be the ifs and parts of their wedding day in terms of design, experience, et cetera? So I would say the non-negotiable is there would be one non-negotiable, and that is having a very clear vision of how that day is going to go for them, what they are looking for in that day, be that from the visual part or the experience part of it. Now you have to remind me of the second part of that question. I was trying to remember what that was. Yeah, no, no, no. So that was, yeah, you mentioned the non-negotiable part for you to not compromise in quality. But is there, so, okay, so it's what's priority for them, and then is there something else on your side that you're like, this is part of my experience. This is like in order to really have the relaxed luxury, I need to make sure you do this or have this or, yeah. I wouldn't say there is anything in particular that I could point to, like, oh, if you don't have this, this is not going to be relaxed luxury type of wedding. I feel like the relaxed part is, as we were chatting just a moment ago, it's more of an experience. It's everything around the wedding. It's not just one thing. So I wouldn't say I could point to, oh, you know, you have to have that type of flower or something. But it is all the things being used in a very intentional way to achieve this ease during the day. And I feel like that's where the wedding planner, the person who's coordinating your event, really plays massive role, and that is steering the guests so they know exactly what is happening from start to finish. So there's no point where guests are like, okay, what are we doing right now? Like a cocktail, where is it? It's, I think, taking care of the guests and the couple in order for everything to feel very smooth. So there is no room for questioning. What is happening? Where are we going? What's going to happen in a second? To have a very smooth flow as well as for each event, let's say, you know, the typical way of doing things, very traditional, would be the ceremony, cocktail, reception, after party, for this flow to be very easy so the guests don't have to question what is happening. Exactly. That is the last thing. I want to have the same time for each part to be engaging and fun enough for them so they are not waiting like, okay, when is the food coming? Where are we going? Like we want to move. So I feel like that is what I would say the one thing that we really need to focus on. This is how we bring that ease so everything feels effortless. It's all the work behind. So this is not necessarily something that I can tell my couples, you know, this is what you need because this is really in the task that I put on myself and on my team to make that happen. But, no, I wouldn't say that's one thing, you know. It's a couple different things. Yeah, definitely a couple. And it's interesting because also you're very inspired and all of your weddings are inspired also by architecture. So is that also something like that also plays into the relaxed luxury or? This is a great question because it can but it doesn't have to. Again, I'm going to go back to the experience. I feel like when we're talking about relaxed luxury, we talked a lot about experience. When it comes to the look because I feel like, you know, maybe we didn't talk enough about the relaxed look. Yeah. So I feel this would be and that's where the architecture also can come into play but the overall design as well. It would be opting for solutions that are not super polished or striking a balance between what is very polished and very clear lines, very simple, not necessarily very simple but very clear and very well defined with something that feels a little bit maybe undone. So that could be the contrast that I personally love to strike is to have, let's say, more minimalist architecture, very clean lines, a lot of geometry that's photographed so beautifully. And at the same time, contrasting that with a little bit more modern approach with the flowers and giving something that feels more like referencing the landscape, something that doesn't feel like just very neat arrangement in a traditional sense which can be beautiful. But I feel like this relaxed feel comes from this seemingly just, you know, we just took a couple of flowers, put them in a vase, and they just happen to look this effortlessly gorgeous while there is hours of choosing materials, incredible scale of flowers, et cetera. So I would say it's about striking the balance between what is clean and very pristine with something a little bit more undone. It's like I think like the way we dress in order to give that effortless maybe what we refer to as Parisian chic is this beautiful outfit, everything is very prim and proper, but then just a little bit of messy hair to that. I think the relaxed part in terms of visuals is in this contrast of giving it a little, you know, wink and a little bit of just undone. I feel like that's what's fun, and that's what makes people go, oh, okay, okay, okay, relax. Because at the end of the day, it's people, right? So everyone has different personalities and stuff like that. So it's almost like a very personable thing as well rather than just like, okay, we're going to stand here and, you know, be tense. I'm not relaxed. Like they can feel like themselves. Like they don't need to feel just because it's at a wedding, you can't feel like yourself. Absolutely. I think you just hit the nail on the head when you said wed just, you know, feels natural, feels like you. I always tell my couples that my main goal when it comes to the design, the overall vision for the wedding is for their guests to enter the space and say, oh, my God, this is so them. I feel like because when you come to someone else's house, you don't know a person, and you come to their home, you might feel a little bit like, okay, I don't know this person. How do I behave? But when you're coming to your friend's house, you're like, okay, this is where the kitchen is. This is where she gives the good tea. This is, you know, the sofa. This is her dog. You kind of already understand yourself in that space. However beautiful, grand, or even intimidating, you feel more at ease. And I feel like it's this aspect of just bringing that personality and really making it feel like the couple, that is also what contributes to this kind of relaxed feel. Right. That's so good. I love that so much. I mean, we're real lovers of relaxed legendary. I'm here. Yeah. I mean, yeah, that's why, like, every time I even look on your profile, Grant, I'm just like, it's like a – anyway. It's just like – I love that. So I think it really – it's like the perfect topic for you because you just like – you embode. Embode, yeah. Like that is like part of you. So it comes out in your wedding as well. Thank you so much. You're welcome. I don't say stuff if I don't mean it, so. If I don't mean it, I'm not going to say it. Okay, got it. But, yeah, thank you so much for sharing that. And now we're going to dive in a little bit into more, like, your process too to kind of combine two things as well because I know people also are wanting to hear that. But it's perfect because this is all of the – what you give to. So, yeah, how do you even go about finding the right vendors for your clients as well as, like, what you look for for when having them as your also preferred vendors? Oh, great question. I know we kind of talked about it a little today. Yeah, yeah. But, you know. Okay. We're going to get there. A little rant. So where do we start with kind of finding them, finding the right people? It, again, goes back to having a very clear and refined vision for the wedding. So it is understanding the atmosphere that we want to create and the look that we want to create, which are tied together, obviously. And once we have that understanding, and I feel like for any couple, the biggest chunk of work with their planner is refining that vision so all three are really on the same page. So this is where we start with. For me, personally, while I have some people that I have worked with in the past and it has resulted in weddings that I have been – I mean, I've been proud of all of my weddings. But it resulted in a fantastic atmosphere on the day. It really felt like a creative collaboration. Then, obviously, those are the people whose talent not only I admire, they are also the people that I would definitely like to work with again. But I wouldn't necessarily say I have a preferred list of vendors. I think I would be doing my couples a disservice if I had a go-to list of, you know, these are the three florists that I like in this country. Of course, there are people who are on top of my head, people who I have worked with, people who I have connected with, people whose work I admire and are still kind of on top of my list. This happens. I just recently started working for one wedding with a stationery designer who we connected, I think, two years ago. And I've been a huge admirer of her work. And now, finally, the time has come for us to work together. I wouldn't say I have one set list of, oh, these are my preferred vendors, because, again, that would be a disservice to my couples. I'm more looking at styles and being very visually driven. I have quite good memory of I've seen something like that that would fit that vision that we have there. Let's say we're looking for incorporating, let's say, dry branches and whatever in flowers. Okay, I think I saw something along those lines with that person and that person. I'm going to inquire to them. But I will always conduct a thorough research to see if maybe someone new came around. And then I will reach out to my colleagues and ask, hey, has anyone worked with these people? Can you tell me what was your experience? To ask others. Absolutely. Because what I think many people probably don't realize is that the experience that we have working on the day really contributes to the success of the wedding. There are people with whom it's not just fun working with, because you know how weddings go. It can be very crazy, but it can also be a lot of fun. And we have a lot of laughs. And apart from hard work, it's just also a lot of fun. But at the same time, you want to work with people on whom you can count, people who you know are going to be team players. I don't necessarily believe in, oh, this vendor is more important than that vendor. Everyone has a critical role to play. Everyone has been brought there for a particular reason. So I will always vet those recommendations. If I haven't worked with someone, I'm going to jump on a call. I'm going to talk to this person. I'm going to go through their portfolio. But, of course, there's always a risk of, you know, I'm working with someone new. I can't really vouch for them because I haven't worked with them in the past. Having said that, for each of my couples, I have been a person they haven't worked with before. So there's this element of just putting trust in people that you're working with. So I feel like that's where the secret sauce, so to say, is not really keeping a closed set of people that you work with because I feel like that's limiting to you as a creative, but also to your couples in terms of what you can offer them. True. I don't know if that really answers your question. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, yeah, yeah, it did. Also, too, because, I mean, as you know, like every day it seems like there is a new artist and a new creative. And someone may be better than the other or have something else that they can give, you know. It's like equal opportunity, of course, which is, yeah. I really appreciate that you did take the time to, of course, research and talk to others just to make sure, but at the end of the day, choosing ones that fit what your couples need. And so in terms of, like, even, I mean, because you did touch on this a little bit, but, I mean, I would love for you to share it because I know some are wondering as well. Like even when ones are also on your radar, are there certain things that you look for or that you don't appreciate? For example, a little hot take. I think you might be just referencing, like, today's little hot take. I don't know. I'm not really sure. So just to picture the situation that I found myself in and kind of what I feel is very important. This is maybe less for brides themselves but more for us as creatives in the industry, vendors, creatives. What is extremely important to me, apart from, obviously, feeling aesthetically aligned in a certain sense. I feel like each one of us, from photographer, florist, stationery designer, wedding content creator, planner, we all have our own aesthetics, styles that are natural to us. Like for myself, do I love maximalism and crazy, very loud and out the way? I love this. But I wouldn't do that because that's just not who I am as a designer. You just have to understand who you are and what your style is. So I think understanding that is the very first step here, to just be aware of what your style is. So I would say seeing if you feel like we are aligned aesthetically, for sure. If what I do speaks to you, if what you do speaks to me. I think what turns out to be really counterproductive is when we're trying to force connections with people just because maybe this is a very sought-after photographer right now. But when you look at their work and at your work, you're like, I don't see this. Or we have a planner, and she doesn't do anything that interests me. So I feel like there is this aesthetic kind of alignment. And then there is a personal connection. And to me, that is about building that connection. Sometimes with me being a very small studio and a big-scope one, I take a handful of weddings every year. So they're creative that I am in touch with for a couple of years. And it's only after a few years that I'm able to actually inquire with them and work with them because that's the time when those stars align for us. So in terms of vendors, I would say it is the aesthetic and that personal connection, building that connection. Because at the end of the day, I would always choose someone who's more of a team player, who's creative. I would maybe choose someone who has less of ideas but is a team player and I know is going to give me and the couple their all instead of someone who's just there acting like a diva, which can happen in any vendor creative category, by the way. So personal connection, building that personal connection, and aesthetics. I would say those are the two main things. Got it. You have blown our minds today. I'm sure everyone that's listened is like, wow, there's so much to, one, to know because there's a lot to know about weddings and also aesthetics and just how it all goes, but also what's important to certain people as well as being a professional in the industry, what to expect, and just, yeah, all that stuff. So I really want to thank you so much for taking your time today. And like I said, it's always nice to actually speak about, well, first of all, speak with you, but also in general, just talking about the industry that we all work in because we all can learn from each other as well. And, yeah, because ultimately it results in better results for the couple and for us as an industry. So I'm very thankful for this. Thank you. Thank you so much. I will put this out shortly and share it on the stories for everybody to listen while they're driving, while they're working, however they choose. I know. And thank you so much for facilitating this conversation. I feel like, as you said, it's extremely important that not only we educate our couples, future brides, future grooms, but also for us to learn from one another as creatives. So, yeah, if you have any advice, Marzalena, I would like to give to a starting planner. I forever consider myself a starting planner. Let me start right there. Wow, that is a beautiful question. I think the best advice I can give is to really lean into what feels right to you in terms of the people that you want to serve and work for, the spaces that you would like to work in, and connecting with people who really speak to you. I remember in the very, very beginning before I even formally set up my company, I remember when a mentor of mine was trying to ask me a question, okay, but what's your niche? What style? What are we talking about? I was like, they want boho. I can give them boho. They want, you know, I like taking it in and out. And it took me time to realize that it's not about serving everyone. It's about finding your niche, but finding a niche, not in a sense like, oh, no one is doing that, but finding your niche in a sense of doing something that really feels like you, the aesthetic, the style, the atmosphere that really comes from your heart, that really speaks to you and comes naturally to you, because that is going to make it easier for you to connect with other people. And that's how I started. I've been incredibly lucky to connect with like-minded people who, when I was very new, I didn't have any experience under my belt. I had incredible people who have given me their time, who have jumped on a call, given a chance to a complete newbie. So find your people. Find people who you feel do what you would like to do, whose aesthetic, whose style of working really speaks to you, because that is that secret sauce that is going to allow you to be a planner of your own and create a community of your own. I hope it helps. Oh, that's so nice. Thank you for answering a secondary question. Or it would be actually a fifth question. I love that one. Yeah. No, that's great. I'll put this also in the description of the podcast, too. So 412, our newer planners as well. But even the tip that you gave is important for any person that's starting off with any business, but, of course, in the industry. I have to say also Fernanda. We worked closely together in the beginning as well. She's the sweetest. I love Fernanda. And when you find ones like her and like we try to do as well, like to give people a chance and to just help, to give, like, yeah, it just helps everyone to grow. And I feel like ultimately that approach is what benefits our couples. That is the connection that I'm talking about, you know, throughout this job that we have, is this personal connection, just connecting with like-minded people. That is where the magic happens, I feel like. That was a very cliche way of putting it. But I think I've heard that before. All right.