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This week’s topics: wedding planner advice, wedding design challenges, small wedding venues, wedding lighting design, wedding layout planning, wedding production strategy, high-impact wedding design, Arizona wedding planner, wedding planner problem-solving, designing weddings with limited space, maximizing wedding design impact, experience-driven wedding planning
In this episode of the Wedding Day Podcast, Iron Diamond Media owner Sonja Babich and co-host Chelsea Gibson sit down with Dominique Mattessino, Executive Planner and Founder of Soul Agave, for an energetic, behind-the-scenes conversation. The timing couldn’t be more fitting: Dominique was actively producing and installing Arizona Bride’s Best Of 2025 event, offering listeners a rare look at what large-scale wedding and event production really entails. From creative vision to logistical problem-solving, the episode captures Dominique in her element — leading with confidence and a whole lot of heart.
Dominique begins by sharing her path into the wedding industry, which started not with weddings, but with marketing, nonprofit fundraising events and years working as a professional mixologist. That background, she explains, shaped her understanding of people, flow and experience — skills that translated seamlessly into wedding planning. When she launched Soul Agave, Dominique intentionally leaned into proposal planning as her entry point, drawn to the emotion, strategy and storytelling involved. The name itself reflects her philosophy: directly relating to Arizona’s desert landscape and centered on soul, connection and meaning. For Dominique, weddings aren’t just events — they’re personal experiences built from the inside out.
A central theme of the conversation is Dominique’s commitment to community, collaboration and healthy boundaries within the wedding industry. She emphasizes that the best planning relationships are rooted in mutual respect and alignment, encouraging couples to interview multiple planners and prioritize fit over prestige. Dominique is candid about her approach: she interviews her clients just as much as they interview her. That clarity, she says, allows creativity to flourish and ensures everyone involved is fully invested. It’s a philosophy that mirrors the mission behind Iron Diamond Media’s work in Arizona — building strong connections within the local wedding professional community.
From there, the conversation dives into Dominique’s event design process, where storytelling and emotional intention guide every decision. Rather than starting with colors or trends, she begins by defining how an experience should feel and who it’s meant to serve. Dominique describes her use of “avatar work” — creating detailed personas to anchor design choices and prevent creative overwhelm. Whether she’s designing a wedding or a professional industry event, her goal is the same: create an immersive environment that feels authentic and unforgettable.
Listeners also get a deep look at the logistics of producing large-scale events, including Arizona Bride’s rapidly growing Best Of celebration. With attendance increasing year over year, Dominique explains how space constraints pushed her to rethink traditional décor and instead use lighting as a primary design element. She walks through the realities of staging, power, flow and timing — especially in Arizona’s extreme heat — along with her decision to balance live and faux florals for longevity. One standout moment is her description of a suspended wedding dress installation created in partnership with a bridal boutique, a project that required on-site design, custom structures and meticulous planning to bring her vision to life.
The episode closes with Dominique reflecting on why wedding planning and event design feel like home. Creating experiences, she says, taps into every part of who she is — her love of hospitality, her need for creative challenge and her desire to connect deeply with others. Sonja and Chelsea praise Dominique’s authenticity, leadership and unmistakable energy, noting how naturally people gravitate toward her.
This episode is powered by Dan Riggs Films, The Scottsdale Resort and Spa, Curio Collection by Hilton, and Soul Agave
Special thanks to members Linen Effects, Continental Diamond, Warpaint International.
Photography by Cam + Larisa
Photography by Sam Savat
Photography by Ethan Beazley Photography
