The Knot Worldwide 2025 Wedding Trends Watch Report.

This weeks guest: Tom Chelednik - Associate Director of Vendor Engagement of North America.

This years report is wide ranging with data captured from thousands of couples about what they are looking at, where they are looking at, who they are looking, and why they are looking. It's a plethora of knowledge that will help vendors and couples figure out what is going to be the next hottest thing.

About our guest: Tom is the Associate Director of Vendor Engagement of North America. He has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, with 16 specifically in the wedding industry. From 2008 - 2020, Tom held several sales positions at The Knot, including Regional Director of Sales and Director of Training and Enablement.

He led teams instrumental in growing and retaining new business across 20 states and Canada, ultimately helping wedding professional book more weddings and grow their businesses. During his time at The Knot, Tom traveled the country 70% of each year to speak with and learn from wedding professionals. Tom is passionate about sharing the knowledge he has gained over the years and continues to coach pros, specifically to help them increase their leads and bookings.

In addition to The Knot, Tom was the COO of The Treasury Venue Collection in St. Augustine, Florida, where he learned firsthand what it was like to operate a wedding venue. During that time, he also helped build an online learning platform called Venue Profit Pro, designed for wedding venues nationwide to improve their marketing and sales results. Tom rejoined The Knot Worldwide in the summer of 2022.

Support the show

Behind The Veil Crew:

Host: Keith Willard
www.keithwillardevents.com
www.instagram.com/keithwillard

Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg
www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com
www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

Behind The Veil: The Art of The Hustle

"The Art of the Hustle" often refers to the skill and finesse required to navigate the world of business and entrepreneurship successfully. It's about more than just hard work; it's about strategy, perseverance, adaptability, and sometimes a touch of charm. The "hustle" implies a relentless drive to achieve goals, overcome obstacles, and seize opportunities, even in the face of adversity.

Our guest: Terrica

Terrica has been creating exquisite weddings and events in the Golden Isles area for the past nineteen years. Her weddings and expertise have been in The Knot, Reader’s Digest, Martha Stewart Weddings, HLN tv, PeopleTV, and more.

A Speaker of the Year nominee for the National Association of Catering and Events ONE award and a popular educator for The Knot and Wedding Wire, she launched her new wedding industry education system, Wedding Pro University, and Wedding Pro Workshop, to provide niche and nuanced education that help wedding professionals implement and build their businesses quickly and efficiently.

Terrica also hosts the “She Doesn’t Even Go Here” podcast.

Personally - this is going to be one of my favorite conversations of all time! Terrica is going to bring it. If you haven't gotten a chance to see her speak, this episode is going to give you just a small taste of what it is like to see her in person.

Support the Show.

Behind The Veil Crew:

Host: Keith Willard
www.keithwillardevents.com
www.instagram.com/keithwillard

Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg
www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com
www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

Behind The Veil - Founder and CEO of Honeyfund Sara margulis

Our guest this week: Sara Margulis, Co-founder and CEO Honeyfund.com, Inc.

Honeyfund is the Go-To website for couples wanting to provide a whole array of gifting options. How she got started and the trends she is seeing will be just be one of many things we will talk about!

Sara is an enthusiastic champion of love and travel. As co-founder and CEO of the popular honeymoon registry Honeyfund, she is focused on a singular mission: helping all couples make their honeymoon happen. This is simply because research shows that couples who start their marriage with a honeymoon are more likely to be happily married 11+ years later.

Sara's winning appearance on Shark Tank in 2014 has propelled her into regional, national and international speakerships and media. She’s sought as an expert on a variety of topics including weddings, honeymoons, personal finance and empowerment, marketing and entrepreneurship, and women in business.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/saramargulis/

facebook.com/honeyfund

linkedin.com/company/honeyfund-com-inc-/

instagram.com/honeyfund

https://www.tiktok.com/@honeyfund

Support the Show.

Behind The Veil Crew:

Host: Keith Willard
www.keithwillardevents.com
www.instagram.com/keithwillard

Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg
www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com
www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

We all think "How cool would it be to work with celebrities and athletes" but have zero idea of how to get in front of them. And once we book them, what are they truly like to work with.

Our guest today: Randy Long

Randy Long is the owner of The Pix Squad, a professional event photography company specializing in corporate gatherings, golf outings and charity galas. The Pix Squad’s Mobile Pix Cart has turned golf photography upside down and is welcomed by PGA, LPGA and PGA Canada tournaments as well as hundreds of local tournaments. The Mobile Pix Cart led The Pix Squad to work with 24 pro sports figures such as Von Miller, Ron Jaworski, Patrick Williams and Darren Waller, further bolstering their fundraising galas and events coast to coast, creating a measurable increase in philanthropic donations through the heightened level of entertainment they provide.

With a degree in theatre and extensive event management experience, Randy and his Squad leveraged that experience to produce jaw dropping photo experiences to increase sponsorship income and extend social reach. Randy was first a small town newspaper reporter/photographer who translated his experience into opportunity when he took a side gig as a mall Santa to pay for his family's holiday spending. Frustrated with the experience, Randy created Santa Magic (shopping center Santa/Easter Photo) and later

The Pix Squad. Huge corporate clients like Microsoft, United Way, Bell Bank and Great Clips, have also used The Pix Squad to increase brand awareness, corporate goodwill or employee engagement at their events. One of Randy’s proudest accomplishments as a business owner is his Squad Members who often get job offers from Pix Squad clients due to their enthusiasm and work ethic.

Support the show

Behind The Veil Crew:

Host: Keith Willard
www.keithwillardevents.com
www.instagram.com/keithwillard

Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg
www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com
www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

This week we dive into what it takes to get published on The Knot, and we hear directly from the source! Esther Lee is the Deputy Editor for The Knot Online and In Print.

Whether you are a couple or a vendor, getting your wedding published is like winning first prize in the wedding world. The most visable location is The Knot. Known worldwide as the go to source for all things weddings, having an article or photos that include your event adds credence to vendors reputation. But what does it take? How do you even go about submitting?

Support the Show.

Behind The Veil Crew:

Host: Keith Willard
www.keithwillardevents.com
www.instagram.com/keithwillard

Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg
www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com
www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

Word of mouth is the most effective way of getting your name out there - so how do you do that?

Our Guest: Carin Hunt

Carin Hunt, CEO of Celebration Pros, leads a dynamic community of ambitious wedding professionals determined to break through their glass ceiling of doubts and achieve the success they so desire and deserve.

With her innovative Champagne Logic approach, Carin collaborates with clients in both group and one-on-one settings, uncorking the potential in their businesses, refining structures, and toasting to valuable connections.

Drawing on 15 years of experience in luxury hospitality and event management, she empowers creative entrepreneurs to build businesses worth celebrating through a hands-on learning style.

Her insights can be found in publications such as Special Events, Catersource, Today, and Rising Tide Society. Passionate about promoting success, Carin engages in community leadership, podcast hosting, and public speaking, all while relishing the sunny island life with her family in the Florida Keys.

Support the Show.

Behind The Veil Crew:

Host: Keith Willard
www.keithwillardevents.com
www.instagram.com/keithwillard

Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg
www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com
www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

Behind The Veil: The Knot Real Weddings Study and Budgeting

The Knot and Wedding Wire are the main sources that couples use for finding and booking vendors. it is also where many of them go to get their information. Find out where they get their numbers and more!

Our guest: Tom Chelednik, North America Director of Vendor Engagement, The Knot Worldwide

Tom Chelednik, North America Director of Vendor Engagement, The Knot Worldwide

Tom Chelednik has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, with 16 specifically in the wedding industry. From 2008 - 2020, Tom held several sales positions at The Knot, including Regional Director of Sales and Director of Training and Enablement.

He led teams instrumental in growing and retaining new business across 20 states and Canada, ultimately helping wedding professionals book more weddings and grow their businesses. During his time at The Knot, Tom traveled the country 70% of each year to speak with and learn from wedding professionals.

Tom is passionate about sharing the knowledge he has gained over the years and continues to coach pros, specifically to help them increase their leads and bookings. In addition to The Knot, Tom was the COO of The Treasury Venue Collection in St. Augustine, Florida, where he learned firsthand what it was like to operate a wedding venue.

During that time, he also helped build an online learning platform called Venue Profit Pro, designed for wedding venues nationwide to improve their marketing and sales results.

Tom rejoined The Knot Worldwide in the summer of 2022 and is now The Director of Vendor Engagement. When he's not traveling around the country, Tom spends time with his family, which now includes three grandchildren.

Support the Show.

Behind The Veil Crew:

Host: Keith Willard
www.keithwillardevents.com
www.instagram.com/keithwillard

Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg
www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com
www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci

Behind the Veil: luxury lifestyle concierge

The most valuable asset we posses is time. When planning a wedding, a honeymoon, or any escape, having a someone to take care of every detail could be immeasurable!

Our Guest: Shauna Norton - Founder of Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life)

Known for her attention to detail, she stands as the owner of a thriving Lifestyle Concierge service. With a proven track record in project management and a knack for strategic problem-solving, Shauna is a versatile entrepreneur who has honed her skills across various industries. Her expertise spans operations management, financial planning, and event execution.

Dolce Vita is the vision of founder Shauna Norton, a Jamaican native who grew up in the US. Possessing a lifelong love of travel and new experiences, Shauna has traveled extensively. Throughout her experiences, has forged an extensive network of contacts and sources that allows Dolce Vita Concierge to deliver a broad world of services to clients inside and outside the US.

Shauna Norton holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Florida International University. With licenses including SIE, Series 6, and 63, she combines academic excellence with financial expertise.

Support the Show.

Behind The Veil Crew:

Host: Keith Willard
www.keithwillardevents.com
www.instagram.com/keithwillard

Co- Host: Marci Guttenberg
www.anaffairtorememberbymarci.com
www.instagram.com/anaffairtorememberbymarci