Behind the Mic: Why We Started VOW Omaha
Rayna Roseby, James Lathrop and Claire Katan
When you spend every weekend documenting weddings, you see the industry from a very specific vantage point. You see the incredible highs, the behind-the-scenes hustle, the unexpected hiccups, and the immense amount of teamwork required to make an eight-hour celebration feel effortless. But most couples only see the final polish and most vendors rarely get a chance to sit down and talk openly about what actually goes into the craft.
That disconnect is exactly why VOW (Voices on Weddings) Omaha came to life.
Teaming up with Claire Katan and Rayna Roseby to create and co-host this podcast has been one of the most rewarding creative projects I’ve tackled. As someone who lives behind the camera, stepping into the producer’s chair and sitting in front of a microphone offered a whole new way to connect with the local wedding community and to give couples a genuine, unfiltered look behind the curtain.
Beyond the Vendor Guide
Most wedding planning advice out there tends to feel pretty cookie-cutter. It’s lists of generic questions to ask, Pinterest boards that don't account for Midwestern weather, and glossy highlights that skip over practical reality.
With VOW Omaha, Claire, Rayna, and I wanted to create a conversational space where we could break down the real stuff:
Demystifying the Process: What should couples actually look for when hiring their team? How do timelines really work once the day gets rolling?
Vendor Spotlights & Stories: Giving local Omaha and regional wedding pros a platform to share their expertise, their creative philosophy, and the wild stories that happen when the doors close.
Honest Advice for Couples: Stripping away the stress and pressure of traditional planning to help couples focus on building a day that actually feels like them.
Bringing the Production Together
From an audio and production standpoint, shaping the show has been an absolute blast. Every episode is a balance of thoughtful discussion and casual, good-humored banter. Whether we’re debating timeline logistics, laughing about reception mishaps, or diving deep into how vendors can better support each other, the energy in the room always circles back to community over competition.
Omaha has a deeply talented, tight-knit network of wedding professionals. Being able to highlight those voices alongside Claire and Rayna has reinforced just how much passion lives in our local scene.
Tune In and Join the Conversation
Whether you’re in the middle of planning your own wedding, working in the local events industry, or just love hearing genuine conversations about creativity and small business, VOW Omaha was built for you.
Grab your favorite cup of coffee, queue up an episode on your favorite podcast platform, and let us know what topics you want us to tackle next.
Would you like to highlight any specific episodes or upcoming topics before publishing?
