#8: Assumpta Vitcu on Planning Multicultural Weddings, Being a Black Women in the Wedding Industry, Copying, and Leading Change Through Kindness

LOVEMYDRESS.NET    //   Lucy White is co-founder of Wiskow & White, an Italian wedding planning company based in the UK and Italy.   Wiskow & White have also recently co-founded La Lista, a membership community catering to couples planning Italian weddings.Lucy is a passionate creative entrepreneur, obsessed with beautiful design and impeccable customer service. Lucy and her team have worked hard to transform and redefine the landscape of Italian wedding planning, with a philosophy that seeks to truly understand couples and foster authentic relationships.  Lucy's dedication, expertise, and love for Italy has led to the creation of hundreds of uniquely beautiful weddings that showcase their passion for people and creativity, respect for their breathtaking natural surroundings, and that are regularly documented by some of the world’s best wedding photographers.Lucy is a wife to Ben and mum to her little boy Ziggy. She authors a deeply personal blog, through which she candidly discusses her experiences living with Colitis and Cardiomyopathy. Lucy is also a vocal advocate for the significance of busy entrepreneurs prioritising their mental well-being by setting firm boundaries, embracing rest and learning when to step back - all without apology or explanation. She champions regular self-care practices and passionately promotes the value of counselling, recognising it as a powerful tool in fostering resilience and sustaining mental wellness.WISKOW & WHITEwiskowandwhite.com@wiskowandwhiteLOVE MY DRESSlovemydress.net@lovemydress@annabelbeeforthDEAF?You will find a full transcript of this episode here https://thelovemydresspodcast.buzzsprout.com (select the appropriate episode then tap the transcript tab).PLEASE FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW OUR PODCASTPlease kindly take a moment to subscribe to The Love My Dress Podcast today. And if you haven't already, I'd greatly appreciate your consideration in leaving a friendly review or rating. These small actions require mere seconds of your time but will play a vital role in enhancing our visibility on platforms like Spotify, Apple, and Google.  Thank you so very much for your support and encouragement.

LOVEMYDRESS.NET    //   Jessie Westwood is founder of Studio Sorores, a leading UK wedding and event planning and design company. Jessie lives in the Cotswolds with her daughter Flora,  her son Augustus, her husband Henry - and their Fox Red Labrador, Jupiter. Jessie’s work is highly sought after by discerning couples around the globe, who seek exceptional talent to create the most luxurious and beautiful wedding day experiences.Jessie is a force to be reckoned with, as anyone lucky enough to know her will contest.  She lives and breaths excellent wedding planning and design. She is smart and intelligent. She is hard working and a true grafter who will be the first to roll up her sleeves when a job needs to be done. She is stylish, discerning, meticulous when it comes to detail and has impeccable taste in fashion and interiors. She’s a high energy, natural born leader who inspires all those around her. She is kind, loyal, and very funny. She has an infectious sense of humour and knows never to take herself too seriously.Outside of wedding planning, Jessie is also a trusted consultant, mentor and brand stylist. STUDIO SORORESstudiosorores.com@studiosororesLOVE MY DRESSlovemydress.net@lovemydress@annabelbeeforthDEAF?You will find a full transcript of this episode here https://thelovemydresspodcast.buzzsprout.com (select the appropriate episode then tap the transcript tab).PLEASE FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW OUR PODCASTPlease kindly take a moment to subscribe to The Love My Dress Podcast today. And if you haven't already, I'd greatly appreciate your consideration in leaving a friendly review or rating. These small actions require mere seconds of your time but will play a vital role in enhancing our visibility on platforms like Spotify, Apple, and Google.  Thank you so very much for your support and encouragement.

LOVEMYDRESS.NET    //   Assumpta Vitcu is founder of Ave Creations, a multi-cultural wedding planning company that creates luxury experiences for couples from diverse backgrounds.Assumpta is also a writer, a flower enthusiast, a poet, and a talented spoken word artist. She is co-founder of Our Owambe - a blog and podcast created with the goal of redefining Black Love and celebration.  She is also the creative talent behind Ave Blooms, a side-endeavour to deliver beautiful bouquets to clients across London and Essex.As a Black woman making her mark in the UK wedding industry, Assumpta brings a unique perspective and an essential voice that demands to be heard. Through her unwavering commitment to see a more diverse and inclusive wedding industry, Assumpta is helping to revolutionise the way we all perceive and experience weddings.  She proudly and fearlessly embraces her identity, using her skills as a compassionate empath to break down barriers and foster an environment where love, joy, and cultural traditions can flourish in harmony.ASSUMPTA VITCUavecreations.com@assumpta_v@byavecreations LINKS TO MENTIONSNova (Nova Reid) - novareid.com Our Owambe - instagram.com/ourowambe Bella Naija - bellanaija.comLOVE MY DRESSlovemydress.net@lovemydress@annabelbeeforthDEAF?You will find a full transcript of this episode here https://thelovemydresspodcast.buzzsprout.com (select the appropriate episode then tap the transcript tab).PLEASE FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW OUR PODCASTPlease kindly take a moment to subscribe to The Love My Dress Podcast today. And if you haven't already, I'd greatly appreciate your consideration in leaving a friendly review or rating. These small actions require mere seconds of your time but will play a vital role in enhancing our visibility on platforms like Spotify, Apple, and Google.  Thank you so very much for your support and encouragement.

LOVEMYDRESS.NET    //   Benjamin Wheeler is an extraordinarily talented, popular and highly sought after British wedding photographer.Based in London, but sought after by couples with discerning style all over the world, Benjamin's work has taken him to some of the most breathtakingly beautiful destinations far and wide.Benjamin had the incredible honour of photographing the wedding of Her Royal Highness, Princess Beatrice of York, in 2020. His work is also regularly published in Vogue and featured by all the top digital wedding platforms, including, of course, Love My Dress, The Together Journal, The Wedding Collective and The Lane. Despite his professional status, Ben has consistently remained one of the most humble people I have ever met in this industry. He is kind, unassuming, down to earth and definitely does not let his incredible achievements go to his head. He credits his easy going approach as being an extension of his relaxed personality. BENJAMIN WHEELERbenjaminthomaswheeler.com@benjaminwheelerLINKS TO MENTIONSNirav PatelEd PeersDanelle BohaneDan O'DayChris & Gill (The Curries)RJ Print LabMasterclass.comAre You Really OK', by Roman Kemp (book)LOVE MY DRESSlovemydress.net@lovemydress@annabelbeeforthDEAF?You will find a full transcript of this episode here https://thelovemydresspodcast.buzzsprout.com (select the appropriate episode then tap the transcript tab).PLEASE FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW OUR PODCASTPlease kindly take a moment to subscribe to The Love My Dress Podcast today. And if you haven't already, I'd greatly appreciate your consideration in leaving a friendly review or rating. These small actions require mere seconds of your time but will play a vital role in enhancing our visibility on platforms like Spotify, Apple, and Google.  Thank you so very much for your support and encouragement.

I’m sharing a short, unplanned and personal 10 minute podcast episode in light of Addiction Awareness week. This is a completely uncut episode, 100% raw, real and unedited - so please forgive the sound quality.For a list of helpful addiction support resources, please visit lovemydress.net/addicitonsupport.Love Annabel x

LOVEMYDRESS.NET    //    Zena Birch is a Humanist wedding celebrant whose life mission is to inspire others to chose love in every aspect of their lives. Zena's path to becoming a celebrant was forged through deeply personal experiences. In moments of profound tragedy, unimaginable loss, and the power of forgiveness, she discovered firsthand the transformative nature of love. Through these experiences, she witnessed love's ability to heal wounds, forge connections, and imbue our lives with indescribable joy and treasured memories.As a Humanist celebrant, Zena treasures the belief that love transcends boundaries and should be celebrated in a way that is authentic and profoundly meaningful to each couple.  Her approach is rooted in inclusivity, embracing the beautiful diversity of love and the countless ways in which it manifests itself in our lives. She believes that love has the power to dismantle prejudice, ignorance, and despair.With a compassionate heart and an unwavering commitment to her craft, Zena infuses her ceremonies with tenderness and an enchanting touch that is uniquely hers - I like to think of it as Zena magic. Zena has an innate gift for creating a safe and sacred space where couples can freely express their love, allowing their individual narratives to unfold in all their beauty.ZENA BIRCH:zenabirch.com@zenabirchweddingsThe Little Book of Humanist WeddingsLOVE MY DRESS:lovemydress.netShopPodcastDirectory@lovemydress@annabelbeeforthTRIGGER WARNING: Please note, this episode explores the issue of grief, a road traffic accident and loss of a sibling as a child. DEAF? You will find a full transcript via the 'Transcript' tab on this page.PLEASE FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW OUR PODCASTPlease kindly take a moment to subscribe to The Love My Dress Podcast today. And if you haven't already, I'd greatly appreciate your consideration in leaving a friendly review or rating. These small actions require mere seconds of your time but will play a vital role in enhancing our visibility on platforms like Spotify, Apple, and Google.  Thank you so very much for your support and encouragement.

LOVEMYDRESS.NET    //    Emma Marshall  is the Managing Director of  Miss Bush, a bridal boutique located in the town of Ripley in Surrey in South East England. Emma is an authority on bridal fashion - a trail blazer, disruptor and true pioneer. She is a gifted stylist who is passionate about empowering other women through fashion and style.This year, Miss Bush celebrated 35 years in business - but don’t for a hot second think this means that Emma or her brand are in any way past their best. On the contrary, She is the OG of bridal fashion retail - a natural born leader, visionary and innovator who is constantly reinventing and forever re-imagining how she can evolve and enhance the experience for brides in finding their wedding day attire.30 years is an exceptional achievement for any small, independent, creative business, but a magnificent one for anyone working in the turbulent world of retail.Emma is a proud feminist - and I know she won't mind me saying this -  but both opinionated and somewhat outspoken on matters that she holds close to her heart. She is also a mother, daughter, sister and wife and some one who is fiercely loyal to those in her world.MISS BUSHhttps://www.missbush.co.uk/InstagramTikTokLOVE MY DRESSlovemydress.net@lovemydress@annabelbeeforthDEAF?You will find a full transcript of this episode here https://thelovemydresspodcast.buzzsprout.com (select the appropriate episode then tap the transcript tab).PLEASE FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW OUR PODCASTPlease kindly take a moment to subscribe to The Love My Dress Podcast today. And if you haven't already, I'd greatly appreciate your consideration in leaving a friendly review or rating. These small actions require mere seconds of your time but will play a vital role in enhancing our visibility on platforms like Spotify, Apple, and Google.  Thank you so very much for your support and encouragement.

LOVEMYDRESS.NET    //    Philip White is a British wedding photographer and filmmaker, renowned for his breathtakingly beautiful documentation of luxury weddings and events all around the world. With a clientele whose guest lists often include royalty, Hollywood A-listers and the occasional Spice Girl, Philip's 15-year career has seen him quietly capturing the private moments of some of the world's most famous faces. Philip's rise to prominence in wedding photography and filmmaking isn't just a testament to his creative talent but also reflects the influence of his personal life. He lives in the North West UK and is surrounded by an abundance of nature that helps keep him rooted. He is loving husband to Kat and father to their two daughters. In his own words "We’re parents to the two most incredible young women. Jennifer, our impassioned academic with degrees from both Cambridge and Oxford and Alice, the most beautiful, artistic soul and hardest worker I know."Philip's approach to documenting weddings is refreshingly unique. He favours minimalist equipment and works largely alone without a second shooter. As the wedding industry begins to embrace artificial intelligence, Philip stands firm in his unwavering conviction of the importance of human decision-making, intuition, and emotion.Today, we're going to dive into the journey and mind of an artist and storyteller, whose career has been shaped not just by his extraordinary skill and creativity, but also by his profound need for authenticity and his natural ability to stay grounded through it all. I am thrilled to introduce you to the supremely talented and very lovely, Mr Philip White. Philip, welcome to the Love My Dress Podcast.PHLIP WHITEphilipwhiteweddings.co.uk (weddings)weddingindustrymasterclass.com (education)@philipwhiteweddingsYoutubeLINKS TO OTHER CONTENT MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE- Photographer's Coffee Morning Podcast by Tom W- Savannah Groves iPhone wedding videography - Philip White and Suzie Turner Couture's Cannes Film Festival award winning short film- A Million Moments (a film produced by the What About Weddings campaign team during Covid)LOVE MY DRESSlovemydress.net@lovemydress@annabelbeeforthDEAF?You will find a full transcript of this episode here https://thelovemydresspodcast.buzzsprout.com (select the appropriate episode then tap the transcript tab).PLEASE FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW OUR PODCASTPlease kindly take a moment to subscribe to The Love My Dress Podcast today. And if you haven't already, I'd greatly appreciate your consideration in leaving a friendly review or rating. These small actions require mere seconds of your time but will play a vital role in enhancing our visibility on platforms like Spotify, Apple, and Google.  Thank you so very much for your support and encouragement.

LOVEMYDRESS.NET    //    Emmy Scarterfield is Founder and Creative Director of Emmy London, a luxury lifestyle brand that creates the most beautiful bridal and event shoes and accessories.  The Emmy London brand exemplifies beauty and comfort and Emmy is renowned for her immaculate and intricate attention to detail, bespoke craftsmanship and quintessential British style.As well as her hugely successful online store and beautiful boutique on the Fulham Road in South Kensington, Emmy has also designed a line of jewellery that is exclusively available at British Jeweller's, H Samuel.After graduating at the revered Cordwainers College in London, Emmy spent a transformative 5 years in Milan, where she honed her craft for design houses like Gorgio Armani and Bottega Veneta. Returning to the UK, she had an entrepreneurial lightbulb moment that lead to the establishment of her eponymous brand in 2004 - a brand that has since gone on to become synonymous with refined, luxury style and can often be seen worn by Royalty, celebrities - and, of course, a multitude of stylish Love My Dress brides. Emmy is not only a visionary in the world of luxury bridal fashion; she is also a loving mum to twin teenage girls and dedicated partner to her husband Dickie, who plays a crucial role as the company's Managing Director.We'll explore Emmy's path from her childhood in rural Somerset countryside, to the heart of the luxury fashion world where her business thrives today. We'll share her insights into entrepreneurship, creativity, parenthood, luxury shoe design and building a brand with a lasting impact.TRIGGER WARNINGIn this episode, we explore the loss of a parent, grief and childhood eating disorders. Please take care listening.EMMY LONDON emmylondon.com@emmylondonofficial@emmyscarterfieldLOVE MY DRESSlovemydress.netShopPodcastDirectory@lovemydress@annabelbeeforthDEAF?You will find a full transcript of this episode here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2248154/website/background/edit (select the appropriate episode then tap the transcript tab).PLEASE FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW OUR PODCASTPlease kindly take a moment to subscribe to The Love My Dress Podcast today. And if you haven't already, I'd greatly appreciate your consideration in leaving a friendly review or rating. These small actions require mere seconds of your time but will play a vital role in enhancing our visibility on platforms like Spotify, Apple, and Google.  Thank you so very much for your support and encouragement.

LOVEMYDRESS.NET    //    Joanna Brown is a gifted British wedding photographer who resides in Brighton in the South East of England, and Normandy in France, where she's renovating a beautiful property, alongside her young son, Fox, and fiancé, Andrew.Joanna has been photographing for the past 30 years and shooting weddings for the last 13 of these. We met online, shortly after Joanna entered the wedding scene, and then went on to meet in person and get to know each other better when we attended the wedding of a mutual friend and colleague. Eventually, we would work together when, 10 years ago, Joanna photographed the contents of my book, Style Me Vintage Weddings, published in 2013.Joanna has come a long way since then - her body of work, which has been featured in Vogue, The Together Journal, The Lane and of course, Love My Dress, has evolved into a truly exquisite collection of art that sensitively, playfully and timelessly portrays the essence of human connection, life and the pure moments of the joy that unfold on a wedding day. Jo’s passion for sharing how she sees the world is infectious. She said recently, “My art is basically my heart in physical form. As long as my heart is still beating then I will continue to make art.” And through her 13 years of creating art for couples in love, she has remained unwaveringly true to her authentic self and unique perspective on life.In her own words, Jo is “committed to living a creative and abundant life full of colour, vibrance and adventure and carving out an unchartered path.”  I am to have had the opportunity to have Jo share her wisdom, insights and personal story. JOANNA BROWN:joannabrownphotography.com@joannabrownphotosAlso mentioned in this Podcast:@counterpartphotosJohn DolanLOVE MY DRESSlovemydress.netShopPodcastDirectory@lovemydress@annabelbeeforthDEAF? You will find a full transcript of this episode here (tap the transcript tab):https://thelovemydresspodcast.buzzsprout.com/PLEASE FOLLOW, RATE & REVIEW OUR PODCASTPlease kindly take a moment to subscribe to The Love My Dress Podcast today. And if you haven't already, I'd greatly appreciate your consideration in leaving a friendly review or rating. These small actions require mere seconds of your time but will play a vital role in enhancing our visibility on platforms like Spotify, Apple, and Google.  Thank you so very much for your support and encouragement.