What makes a wedding photo unforgettable isn’t the trend or the preset—it’s the feeling you had when it was made. We sit down with photographer Gabe to trace his path from a $50 portrait to 250-plus weddings, and we unpack how trust, preparation, and a calm presence turn unpredictable days into timeless galleries. Along the way, he shares the lessons he learned by second shooting widely, building a community of mentors, and shaping a client experience that privileges comfort over contrivance.

We dig into the real differences between documentary and editorial styles, and why expectations live or die with full galleries. Gabe explains how he earns genuine moments—letting groomsmen keep the beers for a few frames, talking couples through the nerves, and scouting rain backups before hello. He also opens up about loss and legacy, and why he now prioritizes parents and grandparents with the same care as the couple. For anyone planning a wedding, this is your blueprint for choosing the right photographer: evaluate consistency, ask better questions, and pick someone whose process you actually enjoy.

There’s no fluff around business either. Gabe breaks down the hidden math of destination weddings, how diversifying into commercial work stabilizes income, and why a CRM, separate banking, and an accountant are a creative’s best friends. If you’re a vendor, you’ll find a playbook for sustainable growth. If you’re a couple, you’ll walk away with practical planning tips, clear timeline thinking, and a fresh lens on what really matters: a guide you trust and images that feel like your life.

If this conversation helped you think differently about wedding storytelling, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help more couples and creatives find the show.

https://www.gabemcmullen.com/

https://www.instagram.com/gabe_mcmullen/

The moment you step onto the platform, everything gets loud: opinions, trends, timelines, prices. So we brought in Angie and Grace from Stella’s to quiet the noise and show how a thoughtful stylist turns stress into confidence and a rack of dresses into a clear yes.

We start with the human side of the shop: a 60+ year legacy, a historic schoolhouse space, and a team that doesn’t work on commission. That one choice changes everything. Instead of pushing price tags, they protect your vision, set group expectations, and lead with questions that matter: can you picture the aisle, does this feel like you, and does your body relax in the mirror? From there, we get tactical. We map the first appointment, use a lookbook to gather ideas, try a tight edit of silhouettes, and narrow by feel, not fear. We unpack timelines you can trust, the truth about bridal sizing, and how to avoid alteration headaches by ordering smart.

Trends come up, but they don’t run the show. Yes, basque waistlines, brocade textures, and modern drop waists are having a moment, yet the strongest theme is authenticity. If a pink dress feels like you, wear it. If clean and classic calms your heart, lean in. We go deep on customization—necklines, sleeves, fabrics, skirt fullness—and how small tweaks can transform “almost” into “exactly” without blowing the budget. We also explore heirloom touches like memory patches and reimagined mom or grandma gowns, plus why a second dress can be both a vibe and a comfort strategy.

By the end, you’ll have a framework for choosing the right entourage, steering feedback gracefully, and making the final call without pressure. Most of all, you’ll leave with permission to prioritize joy over noise. If this conversation helped you breathe easier about your dress, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more brides can find it. What’s the one feeling you want your gown to capture?

https://www.loveitatstellas.com/

https://www.instagram.com/love.it.at.stellas/

A painting can hold a feeling the way a photo can’t, and that’s exactly why we sat down with live wedding painter Hannah to unpack how memories become brushstrokes. From her leap out of the classroom into the aisle, she shares the unfiltered path—early nerves, comparison traps, and the moment she realized success had to fit life as a new mom.

We dig into the nuts and bolts: how she uses impressionistic realism to honor a scene without copying a photo, why the first kiss and aisle walk are popular picks, and how to plan your composition so the final piece reflects your vision. Hannah walks through her full workflow—pre‑event calls, mood and color planning, blocking in backgrounds before guests arrive, capturing reference from the key moment, and taking the canvas home to refine so it stands the test of time. For couples curious about watercolor guest portraits, she explains realistic on-site limits and smart ways to deliver finished sketches with thank‑you cards.

This conversation is also a playbook for choosing the right artist. We cover style fit, experience in tricky lighting, weather contingencies, and the red flags to avoid when a painter won’t hop on a call. On the business side, Hannah opens up about the tools that changed everything: a solid CRM, email templates, and occasional assistants to protect creative energy. We talk venues and logistics too—floor plan placement, an outlet, and basic hospitality go a long way. Threaded through it all is Hannah’s perspective on faith, memory, and making art that carries meaning long after the bouquet toss.

Thinking about adding a live painter to your day or testing the waters as an artist yourself? Press play to learn how to plan the perfect scene, set expectations, and get the most value from the experience. If you’re enjoying The Preferred List, subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more couples and vendors find the show.

Check out Hannah's work here:

https://www.instagram.com/hannahbrauckmann.art/

https://hannahbrauckmann.art/

What if your wedding menu could tell your story as clearly as your vows? In this episode I sit down with Brian, chef and owner of Pharmacy Cafe & Catering, to explore how custom, on‑site cooking turns food into a living memory—crispy fries at a French fry bar, a Paris trip transformed into a cocktail‑hour bite, and late‑night snacks that refuel the dance floor. Brian shares the winding path from education to culinary school to running a Baltimore cafe, and how one Pennsylvania wedding show sparked a second operation designed around flexibility, teamwork, and true personalization.

Together, we unpack the real differences between cafe service and wedding catering—gear, timing, and the reality of building a kitchen anywhere, from barns to tents. Brian explains how outdoor festivals trained his team to deliver temperature-perfect food with limited power and refrigeration, and why a calm head and a strong crew are the most valuable tools you can bring to an event. For couples, we get tactical: what to ask a caterer about on‑site cooking, travel distance, portion planning for cocktail hour, and how to choose between buffet, plated, stations, or family-style service. We also break down tastings—how to use them to fine‑tune seasoning, texture, and flow whether you’re still deciding or already booked.

The conversation highlights the power of vendor relationships and catering‑forward venues that provide refrigeration, handwashing, parking, and clear floor plans. We look at trends worth keeping—deep personalization and late‑night hits like soft pretzel bars, sliders, and mini crab cakes—and the pitfalls of DIY when food safety and timing are on the line. From first wedding jitters to today’s dialed systems, Brian shows how story, systems, and service combine to create an experience guests remember long after the last song.

Subscribe for more candid conversations with the people who make weddings work. If this helped you plan smarter—or sparked an idea for your menu—share it with a friend and leave a quick review so others can find the show.

Check out Brian and Farmacy Catering here:

https://www.farmacycafeandcatering.com/

https://www.instagram.com/farmacycafeandcatering/

https://www.facebook.com/farmacycafeandcatering

Five minutes into this conversation, you can feel why couples trust Alexis Brooke with their wedding day. She’s the steady hand when timelines wobble, the calm voice when a dress rips or a groomsman loses a shoe, and the storyteller who knows when to pivot from pajama pics to the moments that truly matter. We trace her arc from a $40 teen wedding to a client-first studio built on consistency, clear communication, and a deep respect for the marriage at the center of the celebration.

We get practical fast. Alexis breaks down how a thorough timeline questionnaire prevents day-of chaos, why details and flatlays anchor the narrative, and how to tailor posing and pacing to camera-shy couples without faking “candid.” She spells out the rules that make photo and video work in sync—swap numbers, call your shots, don’t reshoot what you can capture together—and shares smart ways to prepare for rain, dark barns, and the “we’re late” reality that every vendor eventually faces. The theme is presence over panic, always protecting the first look, vows, portraits, and family moments that will still matter in twenty years.

For creatives, Alexis offers a blueprint for growth: define a consistent style and shoot for it, learn to read light so your edits stay true, and delegate the tasks that drain you so you can show up fully. We also push back on trends and the illusion of “must-have” wedding checklists—choose what you genuinely love, not what your feed demands. If you want a stress-resistant wedding day and a portfolio that ages well, this conversation delivers the playbook.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a vendor friend, and leave a quick review to help more couples and creatives find us.

Connect with Alexis:

https://www.alexisbrookeco.com/

https://www.instagram.com/alexisbrookephoto/

Some wedding days look effortless because someone else is quietly carrying the stress. We sat with planner Bethany Cower at Harmony Forge Inn to map the moves that keep families in the moment, timelines tight, and budgets honest—without losing the magic that makes your day yours. From the early days of helping friends to leading a small team, Bethany shares how a planner shields couples from last-minute chaos, wrangles vendors into one clean timeline, and solves the problems no one should bring to the bride.

We dig into the difference between a venue coordinator and a wedding planner—one protects the property, the other protects your peace. Bethany brings real stories: the missing bouquet rebuilt from centerpieces, the pocket square “found” as a cocktail napkin, the groomsmen saved from sunburn before the ceremony. We talk smart budgeting (guest count is the biggest lever), how to pick vendors you’ll still love in ten years, and why styled shoots aren’t the same as real weddings. For photographers and videographers, she suggests a simple test: book an engagement session and judge the fit, not just the feed.

We also weigh first looks, private vows, and reception flow so you can actually enjoy cocktail hour and spend more time on the dance floor. If you want timeless photos, real laughter on film, and parents in your getting-ready shots instead of setting candles, this conversation will help you plan with confidence. Ask more questions than you think you should, control the controllables, and let the rest go.

If this helped you breathe a little easier, follow the show, share with a friend who’s planning, and leave a quick review—what’s the one decision you still feel stuck on?

Check Bethany out here:

https://tinyurl.com/bethanycowhereventsig
https://tinyurl.com/bethanycowhereventsweddingwire
https://tinyurl.com/bethanycowhereventstheknot

A stunning property nestled between Lancaster and York counties, Historic Ashland isn't just another wedding venue—it's a sanctuary where couples can truly be present on their most significant day. Owner Leah shares the remarkable journey of transforming a historic 1806 property into one of Pennsylvania's most sought-after wedding destinations.

What makes Historic Ashland special isn't just its beautiful mansion, versatile ceremony spaces, or picturesque grounds—it's the philosophy behind every wedding. "The couple can be the couple," Leah explains, describing how their comprehensive approach with day-of coordinators, venue managers, and setup crews ensures that neither the couple nor their families are sweeping floors or moving chairs when they should be celebrating.

Having recently celebrated her own wedding at Historic Ashland, Leah offers wisdom that can only come from standing on both sides of the aisle. Her practical advice cuts through the noise of wedding planning: have honest conversations with your partner before booking vendors, understand what's realistic for your budget, and include only guests who truly matter in your life. "If your electric goes out, would they let you stay over tonight? If they wouldn't, they shouldn't be at your wedding."

The conversation takes a poignant turn as Leah shares how the venue has become a family legacy following her father's passing, making her recent wedding there particularly meaningful. It's this personal investment that distinguishes Historic Ashland in a crowded marketplace—where many venues might offer beautiful spaces, few can provide the level of care that comes when the owner considers the venue "my baby."

Whether you're planning a wedding, work in the industry, or simply appreciate stories of entrepreneurship and family business, this episode offers invaluable insights into what makes a truly exceptional wedding experience. Listen now to discover why the most luxurious element of any wedding isn't what you see in photos—it's the peace of mind that comes from working with people who genuinely care.

Website: https://historicashlandevents.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historicashland/

Thanks for listening! Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any new episodes!

Please send all inquires or questions to [email protected]

Heather Leicy shares her journey from architecture to wedding photography, discovering her passion after her own wedding day when she realized a photographer's unique privilege to capture all loved ones gathered in one unrepeatable moment.

• Creating a best friend experience for couples rather than just being "the vendor"
• Ensuring couples stay present throughout their wedding day through careful timeline management
• Building in deliberate pauses during the wedding day for couples to absorb the experience
• Using the "four core poses" as a foundation before adding more creative and candid shots
• Understanding that only 20% of a photography business is taking photos - the other 80% is business management
• Implementing a monthly "CEO day" focused solely on business development tasks
• Maintaining strong communication with other vendors to ensure a smooth wedding day
• Starting "Wedding Wednesdays" - tackling just one wedding planning task each week
• Balancing business ownership with motherhood through efficient systems
• Offering tax education specifically designed for creative entrepreneurs

Find Heather on Instagram @heather.marie.leicy or at heathermlphoto.com, where you can learn about her photography services and tax education resources for creative entrepreneurs. You can also find her on YouTube  ⁨@heathermariephotography⁩

Can't wait for you all to hear all of the episodes that are coming! Make sure you subscribe to stay up to date!

👋 Welcome to The Preferred List Podcast! In this video, we share what the podcast is all about — why we started it, who it’s for, and how it can help both engaged couples and wedding vendors get a behind-the-scenes look at the wedding industry.

If you’re a bride or groom planning your wedding, or a wedding professional looking to connect and grow, this podcast is for you. 🎙️

✨ Every week we sit down with a new wedding vendor to talk about their story, the lessons they’ve learned, and how they help create unforgettable wedding days. Our goal is to connect couples with amazing vendors and give vendors a platform to share their expertise.

➡️ Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss new episodes every week!

🔥 On This Show
You’ll find podcast episodes, wedding vendor interviews, and behind-the-scenes conversations designed to help couples plan their dream wedding and help vendors grow their businesses.