009. DIANE KHOURY [VIDEO]

Episode Transcript
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(00:10):
Diane Curie, welcome to the crewtable.
This is a big one. Are you nervous?
Are you excited? I've.
Got the wine ready? Yeah, you're ready.
Yeah, I'm ready. Man, the crew table with Diane
Curie. It's just, I feel like there's
been a pot brewing since I've released this.

(00:32):
Episodes have come out now and the only thing I hear is from
family, friends, industry. Wednesday Anne's on Wednesday
Anne's. I'm like, can everyone shut the
fuck up? Diane's coming on and she's on.
I'm ready. I'm ready to pick your brain
because usually we speak business, business, business,

(00:54):
business like it's work, phone call, work phone call, clients,
clients, clients. Your life is so hectic with
business. You're so huge and I'm just
excited to kind of like. Strip it back.
Strip it back, have the conversations because people
don't know about us or about you.
With every most vendors is that,you know when weddings happen

(01:14):
and the reception's kicked off, we sit at the crew table and we
catch up. We just catch up about anything
and everything. We do, yeah.
The crew table is where it's at.Isn't it the?
Crew table is where it's at. Can I just before I do your
intro, I just want you to know for every time you do a run
sheet, I own the name Crew Tablenow.
I bought it, I got the IP. I love that.

(01:34):
So I want you. Every time you put a run sheet
together, you're like the crew sitting out.
I own the name. I love that.
Use it wisely, said the name. I was like, that is brilliant.
That is really what an amazing name it.
Wasn't the original name. OK, Yeah.
What was the original? Well, something shit.
I won't give people the idea it's great.
It says it all. So Diane Curie, everyone knows

(01:56):
the name, everyone knows who youare.
I feel like I know more of who you are than what maybe the
public eye might know, which is why I'm really wanted you on
here. But you were the epitome of
luxury events. It's the first word people think
when they think of Diane Curie is luxury.
You've literally a global, you've done weddings in the

(02:17):
Middle East, in Europe, all overevery massive wedding in
Australia. I was speaking to someone the
other day and I was like, no onehas a client database like Diane
Curry. Fight me on that.
There's no chance. I've worked for you for so many
years and you know, I've seen you work for even longer before
that. You have been blessed with so

(02:39):
many incredible events and clienteles and it's not just
events because you really build a family relationship with
clients. So you should be very proud of
that. And it's it's, it's an honour to
hold that title, but you're the top of your game.
Like, there's no question about it.
Thank you. What?

(02:59):
George, that is so nice. You know, it's so weird hearing
that because even though, you know, I hear that a lot, it's,
yeah, it's nice hearing it. It's really nice because there's
a lot of work that gets to get to that.
There's been a lot of hard work,as you know.
There there's a lot that people don't even know about that I
want to unpacked. But you know, I I was reflecting

(03:20):
and upon having every guest, I try to reflect on my first
moment with them or my first encounter or memory.
And it's hard because you know, like for me it feels shortly,
but I'm like 10 years into it. But it feels almost 10 years,
not ten years yet, but almost itfeels shortly.
But I was even asked to discuss it with him.
Like when did we first meet you?Like, I don't fucking know.
But I think the first time we met or worked together was at

(03:42):
Laura Haziri's son's christening.
Yeah, I think. Right.
I can't think there. Was Charbel's christening, I'm
pretty sure. And the pressure was on for me.
Not only was was I the first time of like, you know, supply
interaction, but then I was had Laurie Azuria booking me for a
job and I was sweating bullets like holy moly.

(04:03):
And it brought me to think that there's times and even till
today that I feel the pressure in a positive way.
Don't take this in the wrong light that I need to also
impress my clients and I need toalso impress you.
You know, George, I get told that so often from suppliers, so
often is, you know, whether it'sJohn Emmanuel, whether it's Seed

(04:26):
Flora, any supplier like yourself that would or creative.
I don't like to call supplies supplies.
I think we own a better title than that.
We're creatives, entrepreneurs and a lot of people say to me
die, were you happy? Because most of the time people
know that I am. So I just have set such high

(04:46):
standards and I think it's a great thing for the client.
It's a great thing. It's the reason why I'm I'm
where I am today is because I set those standards, but I do
that to myself as well. I'm the most critical person,
but I really believe that's what's led to where I am today.
I think I've been, I think people say to me, you expect so

(05:07):
much, but you also push us and you bring the best out of us.
And I see talent, you know, I see the most amazing creatives
around me. And just when they think they've
done the best, I'm like, no, we can do better.
Yeah, but I do that to myself. And that's the only way you can
last in, in, in this industry isto always do better and to come

(05:30):
out. Yeah 100% where I send you a
gallery. I do like 5 rosaries like please
please please please please please, please give us all that
good. But you know, I get it.
Do are you that critical with everything else in your life
outside of work? Like do you expect that from
your kids and like your personallife and everything Like you set
the bench high. Do you set the bench high across
all boards? I.
Do I think, look, it's George, it's had, it's definitely very

(05:56):
positive, but it's also negativeto be like that as a person in
your life where people like, canI ever make you happy?
Like sometimes it is like that in my own personal life where
I've tried, like I'm trying my hardest and sometimes I don't
realise they're trying, relax, take a step back because I don't
realise I can be pushy even withmyself.

(06:17):
People don't realise some of themost spectacular events of
recent, not just when I first started, of recent, that people
have glorified me on social media for.
I go home and I pick it apart. I will sit there and pick it up
apart. I will look at everything I
could have done better. And I'm so hard and it takes

(06:38):
people around me to go die. And are you serious?
No one would have ever seen that.
It's just how I am as a person. I do pick things apart.
I do expect a lot from people around me, but I'm also very
soft hearted. I also sometimes I'll go in
strong and, and expect a lot, but then I'll just come back and
go hold on, relax, die and really understand.
You know what it is that I need from people.

(06:58):
So it works definitely positive,but sometimes it I have to also
breathe and remember people are humans.
They make mistakes. You want the best out of them,
but don't scare them. I think that's a bit even with
my own staff, sometimes I'm like, die, we just want to make
you happy. And sometimes we feel like you
expect a lot. And, and it's, it's really good
feedback because sometimes I do need to remember that people are

(07:23):
intimidated. People sometimes just want to
impress me more than they want to impress the client.
So I really try my hardest now to really make sure I got out of
my way to just give people feedback and remind them how
amazing they are. Really.
You know, I'm sure I do it with you after an event, but not
just, you know, and even you recently you sent me an album

(07:45):
for a client of ours and you're like, are you happy?
I'm like, you're happy. And I, I was like, this is
incredible. And I gave you reasons why.
And you just, it was almost likeI can breathe, breathe out.
I slept and I was like, oh, my goodness.
Like the pressure I sometimes have put on people.
But I think that's why I get booked because I do. 100%.
I do want the I do. People have to understand,

(08:06):
especially with business, peoplecome to me dying Curry, the
brand, they've they've picked meand I don't take that lightly.
And they're like, she is going to make sure she has the best
people lined up for my event. So that's a big weight on my
shoulder that people don't understand.
I get so nervous, like how you get nervous, I get nervous.

(08:29):
I just don't show it. I have to hold that nerve, that
pressure, that weight on my shoulders and make sure those 50
suppliers or 20 or the handful suppliers deliver to what I have
promised to my clients. So, you know, that's why the
expectations are so high and that's why when we curate the
suppliers, I, I, I'm very careful with who we have on

(08:51):
board to make sure they don't disappoint.
Yeah, but you're very, you're playing it off quite easy
because you just said it yourself.
There's a lot of anxiety that kind of builds out around
building that expectation. How do you deal with that kind
of level of anxiety when it comes to like delivering all the
time at your level and your scale?

(09:13):
Dealing with what was that? Like you like dealing with the
anxiety and that level of pressure, right?
Like you're saying you're hidingit and you're masking it.
Like how do you manage to like, because because it's not just
even me as someone that's on thejob, but you know, I've also
been on the other side of the end where I was your client,
right? I know.
And it's like you, you don't show it.
You, I don't know if you're aware of it, but you don't show
it. It's always strong face.

(09:34):
It's always game on. It's always like, you know, like
I've got this and it's been doneand I can handle it.
How do you mask that? But I think that's the problem
is that people think that I'm this hard person.
People think that I'm this hard person.
She must not feel anything. She's so confident.
She's got it together. I have to put that on.

(09:57):
I can't fall apart. If I fall apart, I'm the leader
of the pack. We have to deliver on that day.
If I fall apart, everyone, my energy will translate on
everyone around me. So how do I deal with it?
It's taken years, George. It's taken years.
You know, I used to have meltdowns.
I used to get in the car and cryif there was a stressful
situation. Really.

(10:18):
Oh my God, yes. I used to freak out.
I used to worry so much. I used to, you know, supplies
I've seen sometimes where like it's it's, you know, I crack as
a person because it is a lot of pressure and worry too much
sometimes, even though I did everything with my team to make
sure everything's lined up the best possible way.

(10:38):
I'd freak out. But I think of every reason
thing that could go wrong. But over years and experience,
and I think the most important thing is surrounding yourself,
embracing the right people around you.
That's helped my anxiety, like trusting equipping yourself with
the right people, making sure that everyone that's on board
and not having this thing that it should all be dying Curry.

(11:01):
It's not all dying Curry. It's it's me and the, the, the
pack that I've got with me that has helped me realise and
experience like, you know what Iused to freak out about 10:15
like 10 to 15 years ago is completely different now.
It's changed. There's still pressure, but it's
a different pressure and that cause through experience,

(11:21):
through experiences and through mistakes and also just, you
know, life lessons, George, having children, realising what
lifes all about, realising the things that I used to suck about
and just. Didn't matter anymore.
Yeah, or sit in bed with my husband and literally fry his
brain about my problem for the next day, that he'd probably

(11:42):
fall asleep and I'd still be talking to myself.
I don't know if you'd do that. So there were just so many
things. I'm ringing my mum up and just
say, Mum, can you pray for me? I have this huge job.
I'm so stressed. Yeah, I do those things.
I still. Do have a very, very good
support system. I can vouch for that.
I've known your family like I, Idon't know them, know them, but
I've been around with them to kind of see the support system.

(12:04):
I can speak on Ivan's behalf that like, you know, you have a
great support system, but I justwant to tap into something a
little bit. I'm just curious, do you reflect
back on your first moment in your career where you're like, I
made it? I don't think there's a moment

(12:28):
where I said I made it. Honestly, I don't think there
was that one moment, one event that went you're going to be
amazing. I think that you have to
understand, and you know this, you're in the industry.
Even if last week's event you shot the most amazing photos, if
you don't deliver for this week's bride, she doesn't give.
She doesn't care what everyone cares about their events.

(12:51):
It doesn't matter what My Portfolio looked like.
Looks like I have to be present for each event.
But in terms of I've made it, I think.
In terms of like satisfaction, like self, it's, it's not about
made it in an obnoxious way or like, you know, like, oh, I'm
this person. Yeah.
It's more like self gratification of like I've I

(13:12):
wanted to reach this goal or I've wanted to reach this mark
or something where you're like fuck, I'm here.
Yeah, 100%. I think now and over the last
few years I'm like, wow, just the girl that started off just
to do events and be in touch with people and help them on
their day and be emotionally connected with something that I

(13:32):
was so passionate about. Honestly, that's why I did it.
It's kind of a hobby, you know, when I would look at people and
aspire to the other planners that are still around.
And now to know that, you know, I'm this name that's thrown
around worldwide and I get phonecalls and emails from overseas

(13:53):
to come overseas, I think that'swhen I've gone wow.
Like, look, not just within, youknow, our neighbourhood or our
community or within Australia, you know, DK's global.
And I think it's when I did my first destination event when I
was like, Oh my goodness, I'm actually good at this.
It was in Bali and it was. Oh, that was the clear runway,

(14:15):
man, I trust me. I know.
I, I, I, I visually remember it.It was a clear runway.
And she walked to the ceremony on the overwater on.
The Cliff top, it was iconic. Yeah, at the time he hit the the
newspaper and they thought that she was this celebrity.
They actually put that wedding on this celebrity wedding
overseas, even though it wasn't the right person, It was just.
But it was good publicity at thetime for us.

(14:37):
But I what I took out of that isI taught myself that never say
never and that you realise that how strong you are with him
because that girl was with me tothat client just came to see me
for invitations. I wasn't even her planner and
she was stressing to me because she had a connection about how

(14:59):
she was really struggling to connect with anyone in Bali and
trust them and they really weren't understanding her ideas.
That night I just pondered on the ID George.
I honestly did. I I wasn't planning to think of.
I didn't even think I was capable and I was like, you know
what, how cool I connect with her.
I understand Monica. I know what she likes because

(15:21):
I've been dealing with her for invitations and I started in
boxing people in Bali and connecting with them and just
getting like messages back. And then I knew also a supplier
in Bali and I thought, you know,I'm going to scope this.
And then I thought, you know what, I can actually do this.
And I just, you know, I put myself out there.
I didn't know if I was going to kill it.
I just like, you know what I'm going to, if anyone can do it, I

(15:43):
can do this. And that's how.
And I literally rang her up and I said, Hon, how about I plan
it? How about I take over?
And she was like, what, What I was like, Yep, I can do it.
But do you know people that don't worry about it?
And then I worked my arse off toconnect with people in Bali,
take it on going to unknown territory and just did my
research and really put my heartand soul in it.

(16:06):
It's amazing. Yeah.
It's funny you touch on that because it sparked a thought in
my mind how for a lot of listeners that don't know you
actually did sign an invitationsand that was your specialty was
invitations. And I don't see it as frequent
as much as of now. Do you still do invitations?
No. And Honest George, that was a
strategy. Did a drop off.
It probably dropped off about five years ago or just, you

(16:29):
know, just before COVID, like I,I realised we can't do
everything. I, I'm too busy with the service
industry of planning events and being a creative that there's so
many amazing people that just doinvites and you know what, let
them do it because we have to, we have to focus on being a
creative and that's, it was a decision business wise.

(16:51):
But the reason why I did it initially is because I've always
I wanted to do planning and styling, but I couldn't get
clients in the door. George, who was going to book
me. I had no experience, you know,
so I was like, how do I get there?
I just need to get people in front of me.
Like I actually knew that once Icould get people in front of me.
And obviously because invitations are physical, when
people see physical, they know what they're getting.

(17:12):
Whereas a service you don't knowwhat you're getting until unless
it's word of mouth or you've seen a portfolio.
I didn't have anything to show for myself.
So I developed invitations to get people in the door and then
I spoke to them about my service.
And then eventually people started booking me and that
became such a big business that I was like, I don't need to do
stationary anymore. Yeah, people don't really

(17:34):
understand. And it's, it's, it's going to be
so hard for me to unpacked the, the amount of work and, and
hours and conversations and fuckery that goes around
planning a wedding and being behind the scenes and not just
as you, as everyone else. Yeah.
Because like even today, like when I'm on the phone, like I'm,
it's always like run sheets thislike, like we're trying to

(17:56):
problem solve before a problem arises.
Like no one really. It's it's never really easy for
people to understand that. It's never just a moment where
we wake up, get dressed and go to the job.
It's not like that. Amazing.
We just. Yeah.
It's it's so different to the 9:00 to 5:00 and everyone's
like, you got us so lucky. And I'm like, actually, I don't
stop. It's 24/7.
We never stop. We don't what's And bring back

(18:20):
to the question that I'm about to ask.
And the reason why this questionsparked is that Chris and Mary's
wedding that we recently did, itwas the last wedding we shot.
Yes. Huge wedding.
Amazing client, beautiful couple, Beautiful.
Yeah. Like beautiful families, great
job, great everything. Like green flags all around.
However, I rocked up at the bumping and it's so rare that I

(18:41):
rock up at the bumping. He came the day.
Before I came the day before, sothe wedding was on the Saturday.
It's spent a picture for everyone.
But on the Friday I had to rock up because we're setting up a
photo booth and I was like, I'm free on the Friday.
I'm not going to send a team out.
I'm going to do it myself. I want to make sure it's good.
And we're coordinating with the draping person.
And I rocked up. It was 7:00 PM at night on the
Friday. The wedding was the next day and

(19:02):
I just looked at this room and Ijust pulled my phone out and I
was like, I've never seen anything like this.
Funny enough, I'm actually goingto share a video that I talked
like it was just madness in the most beautiful way.
It was rigging down to the floorand this person's running around
the room with a branch and like like I just my mind couldn't

(19:24):
wrap around it and I could see the room.
I was going to look like, but I was like, this is insane.
And you're like, hey, George andI'm like, I remember this.
You're like, I was like, well, this room is like a construction
site it. Is.
It's like a building being builtin five hours and people

(19:44):
everywhere and you're like, how you doing?
And I'm like, what can I help with?
You're like, no, no, it's sound.Park floors are going to be done
in three hours. Drayton's going to just be done.
Then we're going to recarpet, then these.
I'm like. And your mind was just spinning.
I go Diane, share this shit. People don't know the beauty of
the madness that happened beforethe wedding.
I got married and I booked you and I didn't even know the

(20:06):
beauty of the match. I never saw it.
I just walked into this perfectly like styled room that
was like just vacuumed. Everything was set perfectly
right in line. Every chair was perfect and
that's all I got to appreciate was the end product.
Talk to me about the behind the scenes madness.
Oh, George, it's crazy. As you saw it's, it is so crazy.

(20:28):
It's so hard to understand. Obviously it depends on the the
scope of the job. Mary's job was huge.
And it really depends on how much access we have.
Like if we have limited access, it's crazy.
It's everyone on top of each other.
It is madness. So you.
Didn't get the day before availability.
Likely we. Don't have the luxury sometimes
to get the day before the clienthas to pay 50 grand because the

(20:51):
venue loses its revenue. And obviously we don't want to,
we don't want to put our clientsout.
So it really depends on what's happening with the event space.
It depends on where it is. If it's a hotel or a private
venue that continuously books out or a home.
If it's out of home, you've got more flexibility because you can
come in, it's their home, there's no time.
But if it's like a venue or a hotel where they have back to

(21:12):
back event, most of the times they're bumping in at 1:00 or
2:00 AM after they're bumping out the other events.
So think about it. Think about.
One's out, one's in. One out, one in.
But George, it's beyond that. Like people have to understand
that when you're doing a wedding, it's not just that
room, it's the loading dock, it's the lift size, It's how big
is that lift? Can you fit?

(21:33):
Like I've learned over time where we've hired things many
years ago when I started that didn't fit in the lift.
It's like, Oh my God, like. We then you calculate.
It we have to get the lift dimensions, we have to know if
there's stairs. Like think about we're building
sets, think about manpower. We have to, in some cases, like
Sydney Town Hall, which we do, you're only allowed three

(21:54):
loading 3 trucks at a time. We actually have to do schedules
about how many trucks, the size of the trucks, what their number
plate is and the timing of that or they will deny them going in.
It is so detailed. People don't understand what
goes into our clients don't see the product.
Mary didn't see her 15 page document of literally every

(22:18):
little thing that comes in that venue.
You have to understand we live in Australia, not in Lebanon
where you just rock up. When I did an event in Lebanon
and you know, you can do what you want and there's no, oh man
and no regulation in Australia. Everything, we're so highly
regulated. Everything has to be documented.
So every time we access a venue,we have to detail every little

(22:41):
thing that's coming through thatloading dock up, that lift into
that room. How many people, what are they
wearing? What shoes are they wearing?
It is so full on and we have to govern it as well because then
it's a reflection. You know, when we come to a
venue, it's the DK team. It's not just this florist.
That it's the turn 1 to you. It's everyone under our banner
and we are responsible or else we will, you know, people get

(23:03):
fines or we will be pretty much exed out of that.
Venue and cat your worker at that moment when I was working
up is like I've set up a table for pizza for the staff and I'm
like that that's your problem right now like the.
I know. That's man.
Like, it's all good. She's like, no, it's 2:00 AM
Everyone's hungry. They're gonna be hungry soon.
They're like. People, people, you know, you
saw at that wedding that we worked through the night.

(23:23):
People haven't stopped. It's full on.
It's crazy. And guess what?
We have a finished time. We have to be done by 5:00 PM
the next day because George John's rocking up and needs to
do the photo shoot. Kicking everyone out, yelling
and. Screaming everyone out.
So we have a deadline and we have we do schedules.
It's just it's full. There's just so much art and
detail that goes into that and that's why when people say to

(23:45):
me, even some of my friends thatI go to the gym with, they'll
say to me, do you have an event this weekend?
I'll say no. They're like, oh, so you got a
week off? They think when I don't have an
event, I'm not in the office, I don't work.
When they think we've got an event, you just rock up on that
day. They don't understand that.
My team, myself are in the office every single day, Monday
to Friday, doing all the phone calls, doing all the detail, all

(24:08):
the creative checking, measurements, all that stuff.
We don't just rock up. There's just so much behind the
scene that's involved. And obviously it all comes back
to the scale of event. And obviously through experience
you become better at it and you become more detailed.
And that whole conversation we had in the, in the first part of
this about you have such high expectations.

(24:30):
You know, I never want a chandelier to drop on someone.
I want to never want to know that something went wrong at my
event because I, I really, really take that highly that, Oh
my God, I never want to be responsible for something going
wrong under my watch. And and that's a lot of
pressure, that is. I'm definitely not here to kiss
your ass like, you know, like we're friends and we get this,

(24:51):
but you my number one, you get clients that come to us all the
time that are like you recommendfor this, you recommend this and
you know, you're definitely in my list of recommendations And
and I told clients I'm biassed. I've used Diane for two events
of mine. But I'll tell you now from the
client perspective, before I wasgetting married, even when like,
you know, me and Alex were discussing our wedding,

(25:12):
whatever, I'm like, Diane, can you just produce production side
of events? Really well, that's just my
observation. Obviously I have beautiful
events. I feel like there's a lot of
stylists that can do a lot of beautiful events.
There's no denying that. There's a lot of individual
clients that I have that don't have a stylist and have
beautiful events. And I'm like good fucking taste
Zo zo like stylist style. But you're very, very good at

(25:36):
the production end of your job. It's it is never a mistake.
Was that an experiencing? Were you always this way?
Like, I feel like you're always this way, but were you always
this way? I've come from an analytical
background, George, So I've comefrom a background where you
needed to analyse everything, document everything, schedule
everything. In finance world.

(25:56):
In the finance world, so sometimes when I talk to
especially clients that have businesses, especially when I'm
dealing with a client where the groom jumps on the phone and
he's like, oh, she's talking budgets because also they care
about. Yeah, you sent me.
You sent me an Excel document onmy wedding and I didn't expect.
That and that's what people don't understand.
Anyone can. You're right, George, we have so

(26:17):
many amazing talented stylists, creative in Sydney, in
Australia, you know, we'll talk about Australia.
There's so many amazing people that I look at and go, wow, look
at this event producing a beautiful event tick.
Anyone can do that. But I think what people need to
understand is what was it like experience that the experience
along the way dealing with that person, you know, what we focus

(26:41):
on is making sure that along theway that we, it's, it's a
process that we make sure the process is right.
People are informed. We create Excel spreadsheets, we
document, we tell them it's not just finding out things as
things go. It's you know, you know, this
George, like everything's like, how much do you want to spend?
Like how long is a piece of string?
You don't want to be stressed asa client.
So I really focus on making surethat I'm one step ahead with the

(27:04):
client, that I've got everythingin front of them and we lay it
out and that we make that experience great as well.
Not just, well, the event lookedgreat, but you know, they were
so bloody annoying, so unorganised.
They didn't know what they were doing.
We got everything two weeks out and I hear this all the time.
That's not producing a good event in my opinion.
Or even the venue going. Yeah, the event looked great on

(27:26):
Instagram, but that that plannerwas a nightmare.
They, they were so unorganised. They were yelling at people.
We hear this sort or they they didn't treat the venue well.
There's so many things that go past just a beautiful looking
image or photo on Instagram. It's there's so much layers to
that. And that's my biggest focus is
and that's how I get repeat clients.

(27:46):
That's how I get people come back to me for the christening.
That's how I come back and do a milestone 60th birthday or can
you do our corporate event? It's not just about that one
day. It's about the lead up, it's
about the process. It's about how you handle people
as well. Yeah, like I, I'm a big, I'm a
big stress head when it comes tolike having personal events or
anything outside of business. When it comes to money, when it

(28:07):
comes to business, me and Alexiaare quite like all in like
whatever it costs, it takes. We're running a business, our
baby. Like it is what it is.
Like it doesn't matter what it costs.
But when it comes to personal events, you know, I don't want
to sound frugal here, but you know, I was pleasantly shocked
when I was like, you're like, George, what's your budget?
And I'm like, this is my budget.And then it was an Excel
document. I was like, budget quote
allocation, This has been paid. This is where I expected.

(28:29):
This is a day. And I was like hectic.
Thank you, Jesus, I don't have the time for this.
Someone else said it, but touching on that topic, hard
question here to prepare yourself is you come from a
world where everything is $1,000,000 and that's the

(28:50):
notion, that's the understanding.
It's the perception. It's the perception, It's not
the truth, it's not the reality,but it's like, man, I'll, I'll
say it, I'll talk shit. If when I got married and then
like a family member found out we had you, they're like, oh,
your wedding's going to be like this.
Like relax, man. I don't have $1,000,000.
I'm not spending $1,000,000 on my wedding.
It's a, it's because I've got Diane on the on the job.

(29:11):
It's not because my budget's high.
I I don't have the money for it,but it's just because I've got
it for expertise, right. Do you feel like there's a
disconnect as not an individual,as a business when it comes to
like someone says your name and it's like dying too much?
One more example before you answer this, and I told you this

(29:32):
recently, is that like, you know, a bride asked for
recommendations and I gave her three.
And she's like, I really love Diane.
I loved all her work. I really wanted her, but she's
going to be a bomb. And I said, but have you emailed
her? She goes no.
And I'm like, OK, email her. Yeah.
Do you feel like there's a disconnect?
See, that makes me so sad and I'm aware of it, George.

(29:52):
And you know, I'm glad we're actually, it's a good question.
It's a very good question because it's something that I'm
aware of. I'm proud to be known as someone
that does luxury weddings, high end weddings.
But I'm also it, it makes me really sad to hear.
And I hear this a lot because then I see people's weddings on
Instagram or social media and I'm like, why didn't they come

(30:15):
to us? And then I find out that, you
know, from a friend of a friend's or they, they just
thought you were going to be too.
Expensive. It makes me sad that people
don't email and they feel intimidated or she's just too
expensive or she's out of our league.
She's not attainable. I definitely think that that is
happening. And I think that what I will say

(30:35):
to that is that you really need to understand that we do all
types of events. We work with different budgets.
You know, not everyone, not every wedding of mine might be
your cup of tea. Some are very crazy and
extravagant and lots of money have been, has been thrown in
because the client has the budget for it.

(30:56):
And some of them are more refined, but obviously on
Instagram, the over the top grand scale, luxury, amazing
bespoke weddings are the ones that have taken over and that's
what's attached to our brand. But I think people need to
understand reach out. You know, we are approachable.
My team do do scaled back events.
I think it's more about do we doall of them?

(31:17):
People do reach out and sometimes we're not within the
budget. I think it's more about being
realistic about your budget. I'm very straightforward.
If I think someone's in La La land when they you know, and
I've had conversations with people where they love a certain
wedding, but their budget is like 1/4 of what that wedding
costs. They show one thing and you're
like expectation. It's reality, it's not there.

(31:39):
I'm not gonna win a job, George,by guessing a client and
pretending, yeah, we can do that.
And just to get them over the line and hit them with the hard
truth later. I'd rather and people know this,
that people that are probably listening, that have had
consults with me. No, I will be upfront.
I will say that was in this vicinity, your budget's not

(32:01):
realistic. Sometimes clients are like, oh,
I actually just put that budget together because I've never been
there before. I don't know what weddings cost
and I actually will spend the time to break it down and make
them understand. But what sometimes doesn't work
is when the clients not realistic when you've explained
it, but they still want that. But their budgets here, yeah,
that's when it's we're not the right people when they're not

(32:22):
realistic, whereas sometimes clients are like, OK, thanks for
explaining. I won't be spending that much.
This is my budget, but I'm happyto do a more refined wedding.
But I want your expertise on it and I want it to be more refund.
So I think it's I think what I will say to that is just reach
out. Yeah.
And that we. Are have the conversation.

(32:43):
Have the conversation. There's no loss.
You know you had that. I remember you were so worried
about budget. Georgia I.
Remember, because I'm in the industry, I know how much things
can cost, you know, but for the.The thing is, though, is that
you know, my wedding was we're so grateful for what you did.
First of all, I should promise that like we loved our wedding.
The whole experience was great. There was like we look back and

(33:06):
even now, like my mom asked me Alexia a question like two years
ago and goes, would you change anything or absolutely nothing?
Like there's not a thing we would there's not a leafy would
move. We were very happy.
However, the thing I found that you worked best with me is you
never fought me. It was more like, I'm not
budging. This is where it's at.
This is the maximum capacity. I'm going to do it.

(33:28):
Let's make it work to look beautiful.
And you were like, all right, cool.
Got it. We're going to do this.
We're going to put a lot of yourbudget on the bridal table and a
lot of your budget on the entry.Maybe we just like mix up the
highs. I remember that conversation.
I won't forget it. You gave me your and I was like.
And I said leave the risk to me.Thank you so much.
And you just needed someone to go back and say let me make it

(33:50):
work. I don't like.
Bullshit. I was like, give me the real
shit. Show me where it's where the
dollar can stretch, you know what I mean?
And you're really good at revamping a room and
reinvigorating that visually, which is why I trust that you
and the production wise. Thank you.
But that all comes back to the finance background.
People have to understand you could be a great creative.

(34:10):
There are people that are so creative, probably more creative
than me. But are they good with managing
people's money? Yeah.
You know, so it's like stretching it.
It's like, how do you, it's likehaving a great builder to build
a home, but he's not good at, he's not financially good at
managing the money. So what I focus on is everyone
comes with a budget, George, whether it's big or small,

(34:30):
everyone has a budget. And in your case, you ended up
giving me your budget after we worked through that and we had
those discussions. But then what I focus on is how
we're going to spread it. And I think that's the biggest
thing is having that communication.
But I think back to your initialquestion is there is that
misconception and I, it doesn't sit well with me because I am a
normal person. I'm approachable.

(34:53):
I don't, you know, that whole thing of even here sometimes she
must think she's too good or I've even had some beautiful
clients ring me going. I'm so scared to tell you my
budget 'cause you might laugh atme.
I'm like. London Who cares?
I have to budget even for my ownstuff.
Like I know what it's like. I don't have money coming from
more angles, even in my own personal life.

(35:14):
So I appreciate that. I appreciate honesty.
I appreciate people, but I can't.
It really freaks me out. And I really actually get
sensitive to the idea that people actually are nervous to
tell me and have those conversations because they think
that I'm going to laugh at them.Yeah.
Why would I laugh at you? You know, I'm.
I'm here to help and support you.

(35:34):
And I think that's the biggest thing that people have to
understand. I'm here for you.
I'm here to be real with you. I'm here to have your back.
I'm here to have open conversations and and work
through that with you, and that's the only way it's going
to work, whether it's me or someone else.
So then On the contrary, when you have these large scale
events, there's a lot of conversation or comments or

(35:57):
gossip or you know, whether it be on social media or behind
closed doors of the notion of wastage.
What's your notion about big scale events using, I'm going to
use this as an example, real flowers and wastage and that
whole thing about like, I don't know, there's there's a saying
in Arabic, you don't understand what a waste of money.

(36:19):
Like there's bigger and better things in this world.
And when people have these largescale events and it's like when
you're in the luck, you aim to strive to be in the luxury end
of the your industry and then it's like slap right back out to
you when you get there. What's your take on that?
George, that's not a dying Curryproblem.
Let's just get that straight. That's just not me.

(36:41):
That's not a problem. Your global.
Weddings and everyone when I speak to global planners, when I
speak to anyone in the industry,in our industry, out of our
industry, you're gonna cop Flacklike it's going to happen.
And when you're going to put these weddings on social media
as we do, I'm sure every especially like on TikTok and
all the comments you've got comments where my goodness, this

(37:03):
is amazing. This is insane.
This is a fairy tale. Is this even real?
And then you get the they're going to be divorced in a week.
What happened to those flowers? Why aren't you feeding the
hungry? We see all of that like there's
a million comments. We can't pay attention to that.
Like at the end of the day, first of all, keyboard warriors,
people. That are.

(37:23):
Like, people are such keyboard warriors and people are so quick
to judge. It frustrates me.
But at the same time, over time,probably if you spoke to me in
my first five years, I would have gone on Instagram and go,
no, they're not divorced. They're still together.
And I would have like, you know,tried to battle every single
comment because I was so emotional and I'd get angry

(37:44):
because I was like, that's not my client.
They're nice people. But obviously over time, you
learn to let things go. You learn that there's all
facets of people around this world that what you might not
spend 300 grand or $1,000,000 onyour event, but others do.
And I think the biggest thing I will say is that you can't judge

(38:06):
people just because they've had a spectacular event.
How do you know they don't feed the homeless and still have an
amazing event? You don't know these people.
You don't know these people and it's hurtful.
People are so hurtful. Social media is amazing for
business, but. It's actually damned if you do
and you're damned if you don't, right?
Like, like you've worked so hardin your life or you like, you

(38:29):
know, whatever it may, the circumstance may be and you've
done a certain thing a certain way.
And people will still bitch and gossip about it and write these
like nameless usernames are so common about it.
Like, oh, you're such a tight ass.
Although it's like you do the event and it's like you're so
greedy and you don't support thecommunity.
It's like horrible. Where is there a world where
both exist? No, it would never exist.

(38:50):
There's no balance, George. It's never going to happen.
I think that's the thing with social media.
It's toxic. I'm gonna say it, even though
it's helped me so much with my business, it is so toxic.
I used to worry about comments and sometimes from people I know
or sometimes people I don't knowbecause we're literally, we're
putting ourselves out there to the world and we have to

(39:11):
understand. I think it takes a lot of
maturity and a lot of like experience and time to learn
that you're going to always get that.
Me, you, anyone else globally. I speak about this with my
planner friends around the world.
You know, I think the only thingI will say is people need to be
more kind. People need to understand I'm
more I'm passionate because I have a relationship with these

(39:34):
clients. You know, of recent we did an
amazing spectacular event at town hall and I'm sure everyone
knows the event I'm talking about.
And there was wastage. They're going to be divorced in
a year. You know how selfish.
And you know what a waste of money.
I have never crunch come across the most beautiful couple when I

(39:56):
tell. You I know you're talking about
and she's beautiful. She's so sweet.
They're both so. Beyond sweet, so thoughtful,
worried so much. But, you know, some people are
very fortunate, whether it's they've inherited, whether
they've worked so hard and they've built businesses and
just worked so hard to be financially stable.
So what I say to people is why can't people celebrate?

(40:19):
They're not going to when they die, they're going to take it
with them. So why not have these amazing
memories? And if their memories means
feeding, you know, caviar and seafood and having, you know,
three singers and having flowersevery, if that's their way of
celebrating, why should you judge them?
How do you know that the day before they weren't, you know,

(40:41):
donating? How do you know that what they
don't they don't serve the public.
How do you know what kind of human they are?
How do you know they're not in love?
I have done weddings where it isthe most simple wedding and I
feel no connection between the bride and the groom.
And I've done weddings where they're so extravagant and
they're so loved up. But they can they're just very
fortunate. They're in a position where they
you can have these weddings. So I think you've got to be

(41:04):
careful not to to judge. And I think that we also have to
learn that we can't take those comments seriously.
Too seriously, man, like you look back in life and I don't
want to get too deep here or tooemotional, but it's the honest
truth. And I know people feel this way,
but it's not spoken about publicly.
But you know, life is so short and it's so beautiful and it's

(41:28):
something that we really need totake granted of.
When we look at look back at life, we only will ever remember
peaks. And I hope everyone that like
lives on earth remembers their positive peaks, right?
No negative peaks. I sat down at my wedding and I
even looked back at my daughter's Christine and all my
major events in my life. And I remember, I remember

(41:50):
sitting on the bridal table and I looked at Alexi and I'm like,
look at everyone's faces. And she's like, I know, isn't it
so beautiful? And that was her response.
And I was like, I'm fortunate tohave my grandparents here.
My grandmother's not here anymore.
I look at back at my wedding video of me dancing with my
grandmother. And that's that beautiful memory
that I hold on to her for the rest of my life, like till the
day I die, I'll watch that videoof me and her dancing or my

(42:11):
dad's speech and like, that's mydad's voice.
And you know, like dancing with my mum or you know, the my me
and my wife's bridal. And it's like, how do you
exactly? How do you not take that moment
with the most utmost regard? Because to me, call me stupid,
call me too diluted with this industry, but this is what

(42:33):
life's about. It's about creating these
beautiful memories and these joy.
And you know, I said to Alexia, we did this, we brought your
family, we brought my family andwe all danced together in one
roof. Everyone's healthy, everyone's
safe. I'm so blessed.
Like that's where I'm like, I'm the richest man in the world.
Of course it is. Fuck my bank.
Account I'm the richest. Man in the world like it's it's

(42:54):
seeing the joy and the beauty oflife.
I agree. George, But I also can.
Understand that you with social media and the reason why I keep
bringing that up is we're only plastering the good, the good,
the good photo, the layers of flowers.
You know, we do show the entertainment.
We do show this. I get it.
But there's so many layers, the atmosphere, the people, people

(43:17):
don't know the personalities that are in there.
People don't, they're just judging and that's, it's a judgy
world and that's why we get all those comments.
But we have to understand, I think there's a real, there has
to be a realisation that that's what the front is and that's
what social media is. But we create the most beautiful
moment and memories for our client.

(43:38):
We're just going to take that away for and that's.
What we and and for me. I don't worry about that.
I think about job done. I think about standing back and
looking at the the happiness, looking at the father daughter
dance, looking at the moment when the dad is so happy to see
his daughter happy or the grandparent is there and you
know, you know, that maybe they might not be at the next

(43:58):
celebration, as you said, you know, and if anything,
especially after COVID, what hasit taught this world?
Life is too short and we need tocelebrate.
We need to, you know, celebration doesn't need to be
because you're so financially comfortable.
Celebration can happen in so many different facets.
And that's what we're all about,bringing people together.

(44:19):
And obviously depending on people's situation, that's how
we create Fuck. Beautifully said man.
That was beautiful. I've got to change the pace of
things. Just got a conversation that was
very deep, but I just want to change the pace a little bit
because for me, there's a lot ofobservations that I make about
anyone that enters the podcast. There's a lot of observation
I've made about you and your business and how you kind of go

(44:41):
about it just as someone who's in the industry that people
don't like, you know, get to seethat light.
But you know, I'm sure a lot of people in the public eye have
noticed that you work with a lotof continuous vendors, right?
Like it's a dying career event. It's probably like one of four
florists or one of four photographers or like I'm just
using for as an example. But you know, I just want to

(45:02):
understand your brain and your business approach around that
around using similar the. Same supplies, OK, it's not the
same supplies. It always changes and.
Evolves, but just using like certain supplies more frequently
than others? Yeah, of course.
So it takes. That that's another like even
some clients that ring us up when they in the console is

(45:23):
like, we notice you work with like, you know, 3 or 4 florists
and you rotate between them and photographers.
And I think what the biggest thing is that people have to
understand is it we build relationships.
It takes so long, George, you know this.
We know how you work now. We know, you know how we work
now. Why would we change that?
For me, it's about, you know, when it's when it comes to

(45:47):
styling and when it comes to sourcing supplies for planning.
Like photographers make up hair.We first of all listen to the
client. The first thing is people have
to understand is we actually need to understand the client's
vision. What?
Even when it's come to sourcing a photographer, if someone wants
a more edited look, I might not.I might not even put you
forward. Yeah.
So we have a selection of supplies for that rather.

(46:10):
Not no, no, no, I don't, no, butyou know, I'm.
Saying there's a reason even with flowers, like people have
different styles. Yeah, no, 100% sea.
Flora has a different style than.
John Emmanuel. I don't like Sea Flora more than
I don't like John Emmanuel. I love them both equally.
But why do I choose between the four?
It's what's the best fit. But why I stick with four

(46:31):
suppliers of the rest is becauseI understand that.
I understand that DNAI understand what I'm working
with. I understand their ethics, how
they work on a job. I've scoped them.
I can't risk working with a new supplier on a client that's
picked me because they've seen My Portfolio and the
consistency. And then I've just decided you

(46:52):
obviously work with new suppliers, but we will go
through a criteria with them to check things.
But what does it take? What does?
It take to work. What does it take?
OK, what did it take for me to do your?
First big wedding I think we look at we always.
Are looking at what supplies areout, we're looking at their
work. First of all, the deliverables,

(47:12):
them as a person, how they are with people, how they deal with
people. Their loyalty is really
important, their work. Ethic, you know.
I'm really really strict about this.
If someone has an eye attitude and not a team attitude.
If someone thinks their shit doesn't stink.
Like literally, I probably wouldn't work with them.

(47:35):
I don't care how great they are.I've had to axe people for that
attitude because that's what happens on Jobs George.
You saw it on Mary's wedding. There's like 100 people in that
one room sometimes and a lot of times, and people don't know
this on Jobs, 1 supplier is falling behind, one supplies
falling by and could be the ceiling and station could be the

(47:56):
florist, but it's falling behind'cause someone else fell behind
and they need help. If everyone had the attitude of
OK, I'm John, see you later, we will not get the job done.
I work with people that pick up for other people.
I work with people that don't have an eye attitude.
I work with people. I've had people that are like,
Nah, I've done my job. I'm going like, see you later
and we'll let everyone else fallapart.

(48:17):
What makes us amazing and I havethe best creatives around me is
if someone is falling apart, we all jump in and help that
person, whether it's flooring, whether it's ceiling, that's how
I pick my people. Same thing with the photography.
George, you've stepped in at times and, you know, helped us
on a job or you've helped light a candle and this and that.
And I'm not saying I want the photographer to do that, but

(48:39):
obviously they have to be great at their job.
They have to have the right workethic and, you know, the right
aesthetic for my client. I think that's really important.
And then we go, you know. This won't relate to a.
Lot of listeners, but I'll just still share it because I feel
like it's important. But you know, as a business
owner, I'll tell you now becauseI have the opportunity to the

(49:01):
reason why I appreciate getting jobs from you, not more than any
other wedding planner or not more than any other, just a
client that doesn't have a wedding planner.
But you know, as a business owner, what I appreciate is that
when I say this is what I'm doing, this is how I do it, this
is how it's going to be done. And I can promise you that and I
can guarantee it. You don't take it with a grain
of salt. You take it like it's a weighted

(49:21):
elephant. You're like, Yep, I've got you
all good. You're one for the team.
Yeah, I appreciate the support back and the trust back from the
first job. I remember you being me being on
on board with you being a part of that production schedule.
You've provided me with that trust.
Even if you didn't have it to give to me, you let out that
reaching in like handshake deal.You've got this deliver for me.

(49:45):
You're good. And I it's, it's something
that's important as a wedding planner to provide to vendors.
And we, we each for that and we yearn for that.
Like if a client was to questionus, you'd be like, I'm sorry to
say this, but This is why Georgedoes this.
And I'm like, thank you for giving me that voice because you
are the middle person. No, because when there's a

(50:05):
problem when it comes to a job, I'm not going to call the client
and tell them, tell them the problem.
I don't want them to deal with the problem.
I'm like. Diane.
This is fucked up. This is not right.
What do we do? And you're like, cool, gotcha.
Let me call you back and then you fix it.
I'm going to call the client andbore them with their run sheet
100 times. What did they hire you for?
What did they hire me for? You know, we've got to deal with

(50:26):
these problems, but you're not one to like question me back,
like come on, George, yadda, yadda.
Just do it for this prize and haggle me and push me like it's
it's more about your respect, the respects given, whether I
really thanks George. That's, that's really nice
because I really try and work onthat.
I really try and work on my suppliers.
I really don't try and throw my suppliers under the bus.
I really try and make sure I empower them.

(50:48):
And the other thing, George, is a lot of the suppliers don't
meet the clients. Like even when we book sometimes
you or the florist or the buildsteam or the flooring, they don't
know my bride. Yeah.
But what I do is I really try and inspire them the the the the
supplies with the story. I tell them about my client.
I tell them why I like my client.

(51:08):
I tell them about the couple, I tell them about the journey.
Because I remember you make of running this into work.
I remind them because I. Remember that they don't know
why I'm so obsessed with the job.
They just know it. They didn't even sometimes know
who the client is. Like they just know we're doing
this and they don't. So I want to make them a bit
more passionate like me. So I tell them a little bit more

(51:30):
about the client so they can give more to the job and give it
the the respect and the energy it deserves.
And I want everyone to walk in the room.
And you know this from Mary's and any jobs that we do, I, I
really focus on creating an energy.
I even get this. Laura Hazu is a great example.
You just get the best out of supply.

(51:50):
She says that to me. Yeah, because you fucking call
me shit. Bricks I That's the honest.
Truth. I'm like, I do, am I in trouble
or do I got a job? Like what's going on?
And the honest truth, But it's it's not something to be like
ashamed of, but it's like you'veearned that respect and dignity.
My next question, I'm going to interrupt you.
Yeah. Is have you ever like shadow

(52:11):
banned a vendor or like has vendors ever fucked up so bad
that you're like, Yep, never using them again?
Don't name who they are, but like, oh, what?
What has it gotten them to that point?
I don't think I've ever. Axed anyone out.
I've probably, you know, over time, like face someone filtered
it out. Filtered.
It out I haven't axed. Anyone out?

(52:32):
Because ultimately I'm just trying to.
I'm trying to get. Just to understand the question,
yeah, I'm trying to get businessowners who are listening to this
one and one in general to understand what it takes to get
in and what it means to get out.Yeah, so.
To get in, you just need to get in touch with us.
Pretty much and outline what you.

(52:52):
Do and and have a flair to you that is authentic.
Don't give me what someone else is doing.
I think that's the biggest thingis just make a connection with
me and the team and you know we're approachable all that work
with us know that why why I havenot worked with people before
that I've given a go and I've stopped working with them.

(53:12):
I might say I really, I would never say to a client I won't
work with someone. Sometimes clients will come to
me and say, can you use my cake lady?
And I'm like, right, let me speak to them.
Let me make sure that they're going to be able to deliver A6
tier cake because I've only, I can only say they only do
birthday cakes. I've got to make sure because
everyone that comes in that venue I want to make sure is
going to deliver. So the only so I don't have a

(53:35):
problem working with new people.All supplies I haven't worked
for. But the only time I won't work
with someone and is because I'vehad a very bad experience with
them where they were rude to people they were rude to their.
Staff. They were swearing and they were
just obnoxious on the day like and they were they.

(53:55):
But what happens if their craft was fucking?
Perfect. It doesn't matter.
It doesn't. Matter.
So it's all about you've. Got a cancer in your team, but
they're. Amazing.
Eventually they're going to. They're going to change the
mood. I can't have someone when I need
everyone's energy right in there.
They kill it. But they've ruined the energy.
In the room, so have has ever been reversed?

(54:16):
Where someone's like a great person but the fuck the delivery
was just shit she end up. Like just.
Oh, there's some sweethearts. There's some beautiful.
People and it breaks my heart, but I have to have a
conversation that I'm not happy with the deliverables.
But to be honest, it never gets to that point.
Like it really doesn't, never has.
It doesn't get to that point because we're there on the day

(54:37):
managing it. We've been, we've had meetings
beforehand, we've done samples, we've done a lot of pre work to
know that it's not going to be you don't just rock up on the
wedding day and see a disaster happen.
Yeah, the only time that could happen on a wedding day is if
someone let you. They don't communicate.
They don't. They rock up at 3:00 PM and
they're meant to be there at 11 and no one decides to call and

(54:57):
their phones off. That's what will piss me off
because you've put me in such a compromising position.
You could have at least called. People relate to jobs.
Something's happened at their last job.
I'm a human. I understand that.
I understand things go wrong. But for me it's communication.
It's me being a team player and having good work ethics and
having respect, respecting people.

(55:17):
You know, I've lost my temper. But then I'll ring the person
and apologise and say I'm so sorry.
How I was today. I was a bit out of line.
I think that's what I want. I just want people to have
compassion. And I've seen times where
there's been a few supplies overthe, you know, nearly 15 years
where they haven't shown compassion.
They've been really, really rudeand obnoxious and they haven't

(55:39):
been respectful to my not just to me when I say to being
respectful, it's also sometimes they're really nice to me that,
but they've been so rude to my team.
My team is an extension of me. So that's the only time that
I've gone. You know what?
You're never going to work with me again because we will not
tolerate that. Yeah, see, I reckon I could
tolerate shit. But talk shit to my team and I'm
like, you're out. Yeah, 21.

(56:02):
You've been in the game for like15 years and I'm sure you're
not, you know, shy of reaching copycat behaviour or like
mimicking or, you know, you justsay literally copy paste,
whatever you want to call it. You know what I'm talking about.
I'm not talking on a global scale.
I'm talking on a local scale. Obviously I'm not going to

(56:23):
bullshit and say like, does it hurt?
Obviously hurts. Whether you want to admit it or
not, at some stage or another, I'm sure it did.
How do you combat that? How do you reinvigorate
yourself? How do you overcome those
circumstances where people are like, you're like, cool, I came
up with that. Oh God.
That's a question, George. Then then event the cop all on
you man. Or when people inbox.

(56:45):
Going you know, that looks like your event.
It happens a lot. You you answered part of it.
You talked to the dying career in the first five years.
I probably would have inboxed him.
Why have you copied my van? I'd get too emotional.
I'd get really upset. I probably didn't deal with it
well in the first five years of my business.
I'd get too caught up in the hole.

(57:06):
They're copying me. No one can copy of me.
I'm Diane Curie. I think I'm amazing.
Why should they copy? Get your own IDs.
That's my ID. So yes, first five years I
probably would have lost my share.
But I think in the last probablysix years, I've just learned
that I'm, I have to understand now this is to anyone.

(57:31):
That's. That's having an event.
People look at our events and are inspired by them.
And I, I have learned that people will take our event, take
it to the florist and say, give me that.
Does it upset me? Yes, it does.
But I take that as a compliment.I understand that we, I've, I've

(57:51):
built a brand that inspires manythat might not necessarily come
to me that are happy to go to someone else and say, can you
please copy and paste? I just focus on being better.
I just focus on being innovativeon my team with my team coming
up with new things and knowing that the people that come to DK
come to us for something new anddifferent.

(58:12):
Oh, come to us and say, I loved what you did there.
I want something similar but give me my version of it.
Can I stop the copying? Definitely not.
It happens in every industry. It happens with handbags, it
happens with shoes, 100% it happens if everything.
What am I going to do Start. A court case, but has it ever
hurt business I. Think.
I think the clientele that comesto me are not the ones that want

(58:35):
to copy. I think that's what I've
realised. I think that's my happy medium.
That's my piece, George, that people that come to DK events
appreciate all our events. Some of them might not be their
style, some of them, yes, they come to me because they want me
to tell a story, to create an event that is personalised for
them and I think don't want a copied event.

(58:57):
People that want a copied event will not come to me.
They'll go to someone else, pay at a cheaper price or not even
have a planner. Does it frustrate me a little
bit when other planners, especially not so much globally,
when it's planners within the local community, within
Australia that? Straight out copy my event it.

(59:19):
Does frustrate me, but more so from the end of I feel
disappointed for the client. I'm like that client's come to
you maybe showing you our eventsbecause they're inspired by
them. As a planner you should be and a
creative you should be challenging that client and
putting your own spin to it. That would be my only thing is

(59:40):
that even people come to me as well with events overseas,
amazing planners overseas or beautiful shop front.
Sometimes it's not even just another wedding and they can be
inspired by a shop front. They can be inspired by someone
else's event and show me it. As a planner, my job and a
creative is to go right. I get your move.

(01:00:01):
But then I put my spin on it. I think that's the only thing
when someone straight out copiesand they call themselves a
creative. You're not a creative if you're
straight out copying. I think that's where it's
frustrating from my end. Yeah, you need to add your spin
to it. I.
Get that? You're letting your client down.
And even if you say, oh, but my client wanted me to copy it,
your job is to pretty much, you know, your job is to convince

(01:00:27):
your client of how amazing you are at your job and what you can
do to at a point of difference, I've got to ask you a question.
Based off my research, AKA FBI George and I get guests on here,
I really don't have the fucking time to like really look into
other people's lives. I really don't care.
But you know, I have to researchyou before I speak to you as

(01:00:47):
much as I feel like I know you on a personal level, but you
know, understanding you a littlebit further in the public screen
scheme of things and playing devil's advocate, I say that you
obviously have a lot of high endclients.
I report and you know, you deal with like controversy wherever
it comes, like is is there anything that ever effects you

(01:01:09):
when it comes around controversyand like publicly on social
media, in the media, whatever itwould be and it's positive and
negative. I had a client with you that we
did was a christening positive media coverage.
You know, you see Kyle Sandilands wedding positive and
negative media coverage and unfortunately it's not always
like the hair stylist that gets the bad raft or the good raft

(01:01:31):
or, you know, whatever it may be, you know, you're the touch
point. You own the event.
Yeah. Do you ever feel like it's it's
hard to overcome as a person, asan individual when you see a
negative light in the media or on like on that kind of brain.
When you say negative, you mean like if?
There's a client that I've done and for some reason it's been
put on social media or in the newspaper and it's been slapped

(01:01:52):
that this is the wedding look and and when I took media like
it feels. Like dog shit.
Because it's national news. Yeah, there's been.
A lot of that like, you know, wedo events and look, when we book
the event, sometimes we know it's a celebrity of someone of
status and you've done a lot of.Celebrities, but I'm going.
To strip it back, George, to answer this, when I do an event,

(01:02:13):
I don't worry about all of that.So you have to understand that
when someone books me, I, whether they're a celebrity,
someone of status, someone of not, I'm there to do a job.
I'm not a politician, I'm not a media outlet.
People have to understand I am aevent planner.
I'm there to put on the best party for the client.

(01:02:35):
And if they're a criminal, if they're a celebrity, if they're
someone of status, I don't really sit there and focus.
I don't know all of that. Like I'm there, someone has a
birthday, birthday, everyone hasa milestone, so they should
celebrate and I'm going to focuson putting on the best party, so
they should get married. I'm going to focus on that.

(01:02:57):
What comes after it sometimes ispositive stuff in the media and
it's personal and it it ties back to the event planner.
It could be great for us. Sometimes it's a very negative
thing, as you said, and it couldbe like the Diane Curry plan,
the planner for this. We don't yeah, focus on that.
My job like the only reason. Why I asked that question is

(01:03:18):
because like there's a business name association, of course
there. Do you ever step in?
Do you ever get like your legal action?
Do you ever? I don't.
I get, I get shit. Breaks right now Paper articles.
I get reporters. Ring me when I've done events
for certain people saying can you comment on it?
And we don't because it's not like I have to respect my
client. I'm booked by the client.
I'm there to do a job. I'm an event planner.

(01:03:40):
As I said before, I'm not a media outlet.
I'm not a politician. I'm there to do my job.
I'm, I have to respect them. I'm sure they're not happy that
something's going out in the media and I have to remain
private for my client. And people need to understand
that I'm booked to do a job. I need to feed my family.
I'm doing a job and that's it. And I walk away from it.

(01:04:02):
What happens after that, You know, whether it's negative or
positive, I, I hope that people see past that.
That's Diane. Have you always been this?
Strong. Am I strong?
Like I think. Call me.
Call me. Weird, but I think.
About like put yourself. In.
Diane, when she was eight years old, were you always just strong

(01:04:23):
and like, strong in the best waypossible?
Determined, I think. Were you always like as a little
girl? Like what made you be this
pillar of strength? I think.
It's because of my upbringing. I think it's because I came from
a family where my parents money was always a talking point.

(01:04:45):
I think my parents used to fightover money.
Not fight, but money was a talking point at home.
Women when I grew up. You know, being from a Middle
Eastern background, sometimes girls didn't have a voice.
And, you know, you just you, you, you went to uni and then
you'd have children. And, and I just, I think all of

(01:05:09):
that growing up in an environment where I felt I
couldn't have all this nice things.
I couldn't, you know, do some ofthe things my friends wanted to
do. I saw my parents struggle.
I wanted to be something. I just, I think that taught me
to either fall apart as a personor take it to another level.
And I think, you know, also coming from a, a background

(01:05:32):
where my, you know, we went to church, my parents taught me to
believe in yourself, to pray forthings.
You know, that strength in me has built me to be the person
that I am seeing that you know. Seeing that my parents.
Migrated here with so much that happened to them and started

(01:05:54):
with nothing. Sometimes I think to myself, I
have no reason but to succeed. I have so much more than them.
I have a much better head start than they did and I think that
is such a big thing for me that you know, especially growing up
and then being a mother is I want to be someone that my
family, my first of all, before having children, I wanted my

(01:06:16):
parents to be proud of in the community because I feel like my
parents gave up everything for their children.
They sacrificed. They came here with nothing.
They couldn't even talk the language.
They had to just take on any labourer job and I wanted to be
someone for them to be honestly.I honestly just wanted to make
my parents proud. That's how this all started.

(01:06:36):
All my career being strong was like, I want my parents to feel
all that hard work didn't go to nothing.
They worked so hard for me and Iwant to give something back.
And then that just grows over time from, you know, being a
mother and not making that decision of, oh, now I'm a

(01:06:57):
mother. Do I give everything up and go,
no, you know what I'm going to? I'm going to show that you can
do it all. And as you do all that, you
teach yourself powers that you never knew existed.
I didn't know I was going to be so strong and so powerful.
And when I say powerful, I don'tmean powerful.
I mean powerful. It's a good idea.
I learned what I've got within George.

(01:07:19):
I've learned through life lessons, through taking chances,
through believing, through taking risks, through saying
that no, I can have children andbuild this business from falling
on my feet, from crying, from, you know, being told at times by
the community or how could you leave your children at a daycare
and go work and, you know, and worrying about what everyone has

(01:07:41):
to say and judging me and just powering through that and
delivering. That's what's made me be the
person that doesn't happen overnight.
That's through mistakes, that's through upbringing, that's
through culture, that's through faith, through praying, trusting
God. I really believe that and, and
and having good people around you and good people starts with

(01:08:03):
family. But that's when you say, how do
I recruit my suppliers, the people, they are my people too,
Because work, having people withgood values, good work ethics
and, and, and surrounding armingyourself with those people is
why I am and I have a daughter. You have your daughter.
She's so cute. I love her.
But I pray my daughter is a strong woman.

(01:08:25):
Yeah, I pray that she goes through life with strength and
perseverance to know that as an individual, she can be some
female. She has strength.
Like I want her to like, lead the path of strength in the most
beautiful light. Like, not strength in in
anything but her own determination.
And you have this fire that's too strong to burn out.

(01:08:47):
Everyone feels that you have that energy in you.
It's just your aura. And it's beautiful and it's an
asset. But I'm just always fascinated
to understand how that came about.
I can get it because I've got toknow your family now as you're
describing it, I get to understand that your mum's a
very faithful woman. Yeah.
She leads to like, leads to likea a lot of her faith.
And you have a beautiful sister who supported you through

(01:09:09):
business and personal life and you have a great husband.
So I get it. But yeah, no, it's just
beautiful to hear that. It is.
It's people around. You that make you who you are.
You can't. I can't say that it's just me.
I think it's having the right people around me would not, I
would not be where I am today. And you know what, George
meeting beautiful clients and their stories.

(01:09:29):
And you know, that's what's mademe.
People still say it. Why you're still passionate
nearly 15 years on, you're stillexcited.
You're still killing it with events that doesn't happen
easily. That's because I I am so
passionate about the people thatsit in front of me and, you
know, bless me with their stories.
And I am so excited because I get to do something that's

(01:09:52):
they're going to look back like you at those videos and go
Farah, she put on the best experience, the best event for
us. I don't take that lightly.
And I think that's what shapes me to be the person who I am
because I've come across the most amazing families and
people. Yeah.
It's. Really, really awesome to hear.
As a business owner. Do you ever say like the next

(01:10:14):
step or the next growth? I'm always curious to
understand, like, you know, I don't really say often with
wedding planners, but do you ever have like a next move
outside of a client circle? Do you ever look at like
education? Is there a move?
Is there an not an exit strategy, but like, is there a
next phase in the career that you've ever like dreamt of?
Am I going to tell you my secrets?
George Oh, like, don't tell me, but tell them.

(01:10:37):
Listeners strategies? No, I think.
You know, I get asked a lot. There's so many people that go,
when are you going to educate? When we, you know, they want to.
I think it's a natural move. It's a natural.
Move. Look there.
Will be some form of. Education coming.
Not exactly education, but therewill be something where I want
to be able to share knowledge. But it's something, this space

(01:10:59):
that you need to watch. Watch this space.
Yeah. No, definitely there is.
But I'm still passionate, George.
I'm still passionate. I've still got the fire.
There's no exit strategy at thispoint.
Amazing. I'm going to get to.
This in a minute, but before your episode, we had Lillian
Kalufon, another amazing, amazing powerhouse.
But she wanted also to ask a question off camera to ask you.

(01:11:23):
I'm going to rephrase her question, but she asked
something that she would love toknow of from you.
Is is how do you demand? How do you demand your worth?
As in how do you get the confidence to not compromise who
you are when it comes to like attaining clients?
Oh. Lilian, of course you have to

(01:11:43):
ask a big question. I told you it was a hard.
That's a big question, George. That's a big Lilian.
I know Lilian, we've we've knowneach other for so long.
It's such a big question and it's not an easy one to answer.
How do you know your worth? How do you know your worth?
It takes. How do you command your worth?
She wanted. To know like, how do you not

(01:12:05):
compromise your worth when it comes to attaining a client, I
think you've got to stick to. For me, you know, and I think
for anyone, especially with business and especially now more
than ever where you, you know, you've been around for so long,
you've proven who you are, you've built your brand and

(01:12:28):
you're like, there's all these other people coming in and then
you've got clients that are like, but I can get this for
this March or I can go to this person and they can, you know,
that's normal. I go, I go, I'm going, I go
through that as well. Yeah.
So shed your wisdom and then you.
Let go of them. Or so that question is.
I think it's really important that you educate the person in

(01:12:51):
front of you on what your worth is.
And when I say educate people, people know when they're coming
in, what you've delivered. They've seen the brand, they see
the amazing events. But at the end of the day,
they're like, why can't I just go to that person who's half the
price and do that? So for me is I will not drop my
price. I will not.

(01:13:12):
I, I definitely will never compromise who I am just to win
a job. I think that's what I will say
to Linnean, don't compromise whoyou are.
Don't. Don't ever allow yourself to be
vulnerable to. The.
Competitor, because you've worked so hard to earn your

(01:13:33):
place at that table. And if you at the head of the
table, which I think you know, DK events, for example, myself,
we at the head of the table, we at the head of that table, but
we weren't at the head to get tothe head.
We moved spots to get to the top.
That takes years. That takes a lot of challenging
clients. That takes experience, blood,

(01:13:55):
sweat and tears. That takes working through big
clients, small clients, challenges.
That's got to be worth something.
That's got to be worth something.
That experience and especially what I will say, it takes
someone, it's harder to stay relevant when you've been around
for 10 to 15 years than someone that's been around for three

(01:14:15):
years. When someone's new and upcoming
and they've only got 3 clients that year, of course they're
going to put so much energy intothat job.
But what happens when it's 10 years down the track and they're
working on 2050 clients at one time?
Are they still able to keep the pace?
So I feel like you really got toremember you've worked hard to

(01:14:35):
where you are to earn your spot on that table, to be at the head
of the table, that someone that can continue to be relevant
after 10 to 15 years, that's gotto be worth something.
And that's how you stay true to what you're worth and don't
compromise that. And I think you need to be able
to translate that. And if they don't get it?

(01:14:59):
They're not for you, Yeah. And I think it is hard.
I did get her question. And when she said I was like, I
totally get it because sometimes, you know, it does
become a price thing. And it's hard to be, it's hard
to be pinned on by clients when it comes around money because
money is such an ugly topic. And it's hard to kind of even
set your worth. And this is something that

(01:15:21):
people don't realise. Yeah.
Like, you know, like, even now, we're in a cost of living
crisis. It's 2024 and you know, things
are tough for a lot of people and and it's totally
understandable, but so people obviously shop around, but then
they want a certain standard or they want a certain style or
they want a certain quality. But when they do inquire and

(01:15:42):
they get that price, they're like, fuck.
So then they shop around and they get that extra price and
then they pin it back on to the vendor, right?
They say, but we got this price from this person.
It's hard as a business owner tolike, take a deep breath,
swallow and being like, no, it's, it's, it's so hard.
You've got bills to pay. You need the revenue and you've
got staff. I definitely you've got staff,

(01:16:04):
you've got everything you're paying.
You don't want to compromise andit's all the client that you.
Definitely, yeah, But I. What I will say is I'm not
saying that there's been times where I've had to, you know,
discount my price. I'm not saying that there's
times where I've compromised a little bit.
Of course there's been times, but I think it's important to
understand who's sitting in front of you.

(01:16:24):
If the person sits in front of me and the first thing they talk
about is price, they're not my client.
They're never going to appreciate what I do.
They're never going to see the value of what I do.
If someone is, we love your work, we've been following, we
love all of this and we've done this and this is what we want.
And you know, we've seen your, we've seen your price.
However, you know, I need, are you able to work with this?

(01:16:47):
Maybe we can look at that because I'm like, they're
actually a DK client. They live and breathe our work.
They love what we do. And I probably will be able to
work with them on that. But if the first point of core
is price and then it's like, I don't care what you give me,
then I'm like, no, we're not. We're not breaking what we are
known for, which is our brand and our service.

(01:17:08):
And I think that you need to stay true to yourself and don't
be vulnerable and don't be nervous and be strong in what
you deliver, especially when you've been doing it for so long
and you know your worth. I think it's really important to
know your worth. And if you lose the client,
don't let that. Sometimes I feel like you lose
yourself. You lose yourself esteem you,

(01:17:28):
you start to freak out. I think you realise over time
when other things come, bigger things come your way and you're
like, OK, it was meant to be. And I think you need to trust
the process and trust what you're delivering when you do
say no. That's what I'll say to Lillian.
Know your worth and you're amazing.
Fuck, I know your three kids aregoing to watch.
This one day in 10 years and be like go mum, go mum.

(01:17:51):
Seriously, it's amazing. It's so good.
Thanks George. Question from this.
Oh, by the. Way.
They're so cute. What is this?
This is. Just a.
Little mystery question. Oh my goodness, you're going to
pick your own. Fate here.
I love it, yeah. You don't love it, you're so.
Nervous. Don't lie to me, pick any card
and that it owns your fate, but then hand it back to me.

(01:18:13):
OK, my. Goodness, I feel like I'm
getting a tarot reading. Fuck me, Jesus Christ.
Oh, I'm so sorry. I need to put this.

(01:18:34):
For fuck's sake. We need to get a dry cleaner.
In here I'm. So sorry, are you OK?
Holy shit. Far out, by the way, everyone.
George, John. Just spilled yeah red wine all
over me. I was trying to get your.
Listeners, some like real juice and get Dee to pick a hectic
question. And as I was pulling the card

(01:18:55):
from my hand, stupidly, the wineglass just splattered all over
her. And it's red wine.
Great. Etiquette, George.
I hope that top's not fucking expensive.
Man, it's fine. It's oh shit.
Man, it's fine. It ain't coming out.
Hey, it's. Not coming out, That top's gone.
Do you love it? It's fine.
Oh. Shit, George.
Anyways, Red Vine was do you want a lot this question?

(01:19:15):
Yes, it's very fitting. Tell me, do you?
Regret any decisions that you'vemade.
Oh my God, decisions. Coming here and spilling the Red
Vine on me. No regrets.
What's the regret? No, Think deep.
No regrets your whole life 15. Years of a career there's.

(01:19:36):
Not one regret. It's a very deep.
Question, George. There's not anything that
really. I think it's not just one
instance. I think overall I regret being
hard on myself probably. I think I'm always just a hard

(01:19:59):
person on myself. So I feel like I regret that, as
you know, growing up. In my career in general, I think
I need needed to just breathe and just be a bit more, have a
bit more fun with, with life, with stuff, with events, with
everything. Just you feel like you've taken
life too seriously. Up the point in you.

(01:20:21):
Yeah, I think I'm someone that's.
Very serious, I'd be up. Tired times.
I leave an event and sometimes Idon't celebrate the winds, so I
regret not celebrating wins as much as I should.
I know it's a little one, but it's big in my eyes.
I leave and I think what's next or I'm really picking things

(01:20:42):
apart. I feel like one thing I will
say, and it's for anyone that's listening is that take in stuff,
celebrate the moments, reap the rewards, be proud of yourself
before you move forward. I think that take a minute to
breathe. And I think that's, I don't do

(01:21:03):
enough of that. So that, so there's not, it's
not like a regret one thing or anything.
I think in general, I regret that even in when I first
started off, there were so many times I should have been
celebrating the winds when I wasjust like, what's next?
What's next? I need to keep working.
I need to keep doing, Oh my God,I need to do this.
I need to do that. And I should have just breathed

(01:21:24):
and celebrated more. I didn't think you were going to
go that. That that way.
No, you're going to take that women go that way That's
awesome, man. Well, you know, it's been so
good having you here. Oh, thank you, Joyce.
I love depacting shit. I.
Love. Spilling red wine and all that.
I'm so. Fucking sorry.
No, it's. Completely fine.
I guess this is. Also a chance for me to say that

(01:21:46):
it's so great to know you as a friend and lean on you
sometimes. Thanks George.
It's it's important as someone. Who's young in the?
Industry to have not. Mentors, but support.
Systems, you know, like running business is tough, doing
weddings are tough, doing eventsare tough.

(01:22:06):
And, you know, it's, it's reallyimportant for me and I know a
lot of people like me to lean oneach other and depend on each
other. And, you know, there's times
where you've really come to support and it's, yeah, I'm, I'm
grateful. Thanks, George.
It's so nice. And I really for yourself and
for anyone, I've been doing for so long.
And one thing that I know is that I wish when I was doing

(01:22:30):
this, when I started out, I had more people that I could lean
on. And I really try my hardest to
do that with all, you know, anyone that needs support, even
if it's another planner. I think most people that know me
in this industry know whether it's a florist, a planner,
anyone. They could call me a cake
person, a photographer. When they get to know me,

(01:22:53):
they'll generally ring me and say hey, do I, can I ask you a
question? It's nothing to do with the job.
I just want to ask your thoughts.
And they know that I'll be the first person that will really
wholeheartedly try and give my advice.
It goes unnoticed. Man, I really.
Really like want. To do that because I think
people don't realise how much that helps you guys hit her
number up I'll. Deal with you.

(01:23:14):
Her personal number. I have her.
Phone's gonna be blowing. Yeah, I have her.
Mobile if you need help. Call Diane Curry on one 800.
Help me. My friends are gonna be
silenced. You're like George.
Stop giving my number out to people.
Nah, thanks for coming. Thank you for having me.
Love you. Let's.
It's a rough, great event. Number one, don't even dodge
your wine.

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