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The Preferred List: A Wedding Vendor Podcast
The Preferred List is a podcast that pulls back the curtain on the wedding industry, featuring honest conversations with the pros behind the scenes. From planners to photographers to DJs and florists, we dive into the real stories, lessons, and moments that make weddings unforgettable — and what it really takes to earn a spot on the list.
Episodes
43 episodes
Episode 42 Building Teams, Trust, And The Perfect Wedding Bar: Drinks By Design
Planning a wedding bar should feel exciting, not overwhelming. We sat down with Melissa from Drinks by Design to share a practical, stress-cutting path to great drinks, smooth service, and safe celebrations. From her first friend’s wedding to r...
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Episode 41 Your Mom’s Phone, But Make It Luxury: Content by Alize
The modern wedding doesn’t live only in albums and highlight films. It lives in the quick, human moments you can replay tomorrow morning—grandma’s proud smile, a quiet squeeze before the aisle, the kids storming the dance floor—and that’s where...
Episode 40 From Film Rolls To Wedding Roles: Jana Scott Photography
What makes a wedding photo feel like memory instead of a pose? We sit with photographer Jana Scott to unpack a career that started in the darkroom and grew into 400-plus weddings built on intention, empathy, and rock-solid systems. From true-to...
Episode 39 From Bar Gigs To 400+ Weddings: 3 West Productions
Looking for wedding entertainment that actually changes how the day feels? We sit down with Matt and Nissa of 3 West Productions to unpack how two relentless gig musicians built a music-first company that now powers 400 weddings a year—without ...
Episode 38 How Second Shooters Elevate Your Wedding: Pat Simonetta of Happy Valley Film Lab
Two cameras tell a truer story. We sit down with Pat, my trusted second shooter, to explore how shared instincts, clear roles, and smart coverage turn a fast wedding day into a calm, cohesive film. From the ceremony aisle to golden hour portrai...
Episode 37 Simplicity, Trust, And Teamwork: Kelly Snayberger Coordination
Weddings don’t run on luck—they run on clarity, timing, and a steady hand. We invited Kelly, a seasoned day-of coordinator and fifth grade teacher, to share how she turns a couple’s plan into a living, joyful celebration without the stress. Fro...
Episode 36 Grandma Betty’s Hospitality Playbook: Altland House Catering Group
What if your wedding meal did more than feed guests—what if it became a core memory? We sat down at Hazelwood Weddings with Sarah Moran (COO) and Cassandra Hardy (event planning and coordination) from Altland House Hospitality Group to unpack h...
Episode 35 Turning Details Into Timeless Moments: RSVP Love
A wedding invitation is more than paper—it’s the prologue to your celebration. We sit down with Ashley, the stationer behind RSVP Love, to unpack how thoughtful design, clear information, and smart timelines turn stationery into a powerful gues...
Episode 34 Why Simplicity, Flow, And Energy Win Weddings: Nittany Entertainment
What actually keeps a wedding dance floor full for hours? We bring on Eric from Nittany Entertainment to pull back the curtain on the craft: reading the room, building energy with seamless mixes, and designing a timeline that protects party tim...
Episode 33 How A Rusty Trailer Accidentally Became A Mobile Bar: Wild Horse Mobile Bar
A missed booking, a$400 horse trailer, and a stubborn streak turned into Wild Horse Mobile Bar—a five-season staple that transforms receptions with smart menus and warm service. We sit with Kristie to unpack how a DIY build became a business th...
Episode 32 Design Less Like Pinterest, More Like You: The Morgan Made Wedding Shop
What if the smallest details could do the heaviest lifting on your wedding day? We sit with Morgan of Morgan Made Wedding Shop to explore how custom signage, place cards, seating charts, and engraved keepsakes transform logistics into storytell...
Episode 31 Food That Gets Guests Mingling: Graze By TJ
What if cocktail hour did more than fill time—what if it designed connection? We sit down with Tyler from Graze by TJ to explore how artful grazing tables transform wedding spaces, spark movement, and keep guests energized while the couple snea...
Episode 30 From Courtrooms To Contouring: Lunar Beauty Studio
The face you wear down the aisle shows up in every photo, so why not make it feel like you at your best? We sat with Kyleigh of Lunar Beauty Studio to unpack a calm, natural approach to bridal makeup that holds up on camera and still feels ligh...
Episode 29 No One’s Wobbling? Don’t Panic, Here’s The Backup Plan: Ryan Smetzer DJ
A packed dance floor doesn’t happen by luck; it happens by design. We sit down with wedding DJ and radio pro Ryan Smetzer to unpack how the right music strategy, MC skills, and vendor communication can transform a reception from “nice” to unfor...
Episode 28 How The Right Vendor Team Makes Or Breaks Your Wedding: Aalea from The Booking House
What if your wedding day felt calm, focused, and fun from first look to last dance? We sat down with Aalea, the no-nonsense wedding coordinator at The Booking House, to reveal how great timelines, strong vendor teams, and clear priorities turn ...
Episode 27 Inside A Year-One Venue: Harmony Forge Inn
A Zillow link, a river view, and a leap of faith—this is the story of how Billy and Kasey took Harmony Forge Inn from a hidden property to a weekend wedding venue couples will remember for years. We open up about the first chaotic weddings, the...
Episode 26 Where Drinks Meet Moments: Megs Winnie Bar
The heartbeat of a great reception isn’t the timeline—it’s the bar that keeps people laughing, mingling, and dancing. We’re joined by Meg, the craft-minded force behind Winnie Bar, to unpack how a thoughtful, well-run bar can transform the enti...
Episode 25 Why Hiring Your Planner First Can Save Your Wedding: Blake Events
A planner who never meant to be a planner built a 15-person team and now steers 170+ weddings a year—and she’s here to tell you exactly how. Taryn of Blake Events takes us behind the curtain to show why calm leadership, clear systems, and hones...
Episode 24 Presence Over Perfection: Rethinking Wedding Photography: Hannah Constein Photography
What if the best wedding photos happen when we stop chasing perfection and start protecting presence? We sit down with photographer Hannah Constein to unpack how a people-first approach shapes the entire day—from the first hello with vendors to...
Episode 23 From A Basement Of Decor To Full-Service, Custom Rentals: Nittany Valley Events
What if your wedding rentals felt crafted for you instead of copied from a catalog? We sit down with Rob and Aly of Nittany Valley Events to explore how a basement trove of decor grew into a flexible, custom-forward rental company serving coupl...
Episode 22 How A Hair Studio Builds Stress-Free Wedding Mornings: Ardor and Sage Weddings
The mood of a wedding starts long before the aisle. It begins in a room full of coffee cups, curling irons, and quiet nerves—and that’s where Jen from Ardor & Sage shines. We invited her to share how a nine-person studio turns hair and make...
Episode 21 How Wedding Photos Become Family History: Juliana Tomlinson Photography
What if the most “luxurious” thing about your wedding photos isn’t the price tag, but how deeply they make you feel years later? We sit down with photographer and educator Juliana Tomlinson to explore story-first shooting, movement prompts that...
Episode 20 Building A Thoughtful Wedding Venue Experience From Scratch: Hazelwood Weddings
If your venue is the backdrop to every photo, shouldn’t it also be the backbone of a calm, guest-friendly celebration? We sit down with Kate from Hazelwood Weddings to trace how a teacher and a finance pro built a modern, non-barn venue that pr...
Episode 19 From LA To Pennsylvania, Building A Bridal Beauty Brand: Amanda Ryan Hair and Makeup
Your wedding morning sets the tone for everything that follows, so we brought in Amanda from Amanda Ryan Hair and Makeup to show how soft, relaxed beauty and smart planning can transform chaos into calm. From her LA roots to her Pennsylvania cl...
Episode 18 Serve The Day, Then Capture It: Ashley Warren Photography
The best wedding days feel lived-in, not staged—and that starts with the people behind the camera. We sit down with Ashley, a wedding photographer who came to the industry through youth ministry and event planning, to unpack how a service-first...