AMy Egan

After more than a decade as a wedding planner, I’ve watched countless capable, loving couples unravel not because planning a wedding is inherently stressful, but because it’s quietly treated as a mother-child bonding exercise instead of what it actually is: a crash course in partnership. Weddings are one of the first major projects couples tackle together, yet many outsource decisions, conflict resolution, and authority to parents—most often, to moms.

I was 90% closed on my pre-seed round for my startup when the strip turned pink. After navigating a secondary infertility diagnosis for a year, and enduring nightly injections, I was finally pregnant — a Christmas miracle and, at first glance, a New Year’s tragedy for my company. It had taken me two years to get here: a solid, revenue-generating MVP, an almost-closed pre-seed round backed by a celebrity and notable advisors.

Meet the Maker – Sue Hodder of Wynns Coonawarra Estate OFF THE PRESS | AMY NORTHCOTT 2022 marks Sue Hodder’s 30th vintage at the iconic Wynns Coonawarra Estate. GT WINE spoke with Hodder, who was the 2010 GT WINE Winemaker of the Year, about her career and her advice for aspiring winemakers and viticulturists.