Send a text

🎧 Listen to learn:

• What defines a historic wedding venue and why couples continue to choose them
• How historic architecture can still offer flexibility for modern wedding design
• What couples should look for when touring large-scale or destination venues
• Why on-site teams and in-house catering elevate the guest experience
• Food and beverage trends shaping weddings at historic properties

In this episode of the Wedding Day Podcast, host Sonja Babich and co-host Brooke Beise, Publisher of Minnesota Bride, sit down with Grace Eberhardt, VP of Operations, and Sydney Young, Catering & Events Director, of Northern Pacific Center, a destination wedding venue set on a restored 47-acre railroad estate in Brainerd, Minnesota.

The conversation explores what makes historic wedding venues work for today’s couples, from balancing architectural character with design flexibility to creating a seamless guest experience across both large-scale and intimate celebrations. Grace shares insight into the venue’s planning process and how couples are supported from the initial tour through wedding day, while Sydney discusses the role of in-house catering, service flow and intentional timelines in delivering a polished experience.

Together, they also dive into current food and beverage trends, including the return of plated dinners, elevated cocktail hours and creative late-night offerings. With a focus on service, consistency and thoughtful design, this episode offers a valuable perspective for couples considering a historic venue—and for anyone curious how these timeless spaces are thoughtfully adapted for modern wedding celebrations.

Support the show

Produced by Dan Riggs Films & Summit Hill Studios summithillstudios.com
and Iron Diamond Media irondiamondmedia.com

Send a text

🎧 Listen to learn:

• What restaurant-style wedding catering actually means in practice
• What couples should expect during the wedding catering tasting process
• How menus are customized using seasonality and personal taste
• How cooking food fresh on site impacts quality and guest experience
• Plated dinners vs. food stations and current wedding catering trends
• How sustainability and food waste are handled behind the scenes

In this episode of Wedding Day Podcast, host Sonja Babich is joined by co-host Alexis Sanabria — Publisher for Washington Wedding Day — for a conversation with Laurel Dosch, Director of Catering, and Shubert Ho, Executive Chef and Owner of Seattle-based Shooby Doo Catering. With more than 15 years in business and approximately 350 weddings served annually, Shooby Doo Catering has built a reputation across the Pacific Northwest for delivering restaurant-quality cuisine at weddings — often in locations where a kitchen must be built from the ground up.

Laurel and Shubert walk through how restaurant-style wedding catering works on a logistical level, from building temporary kitchens at museums, wineries, and private properties to finishing dishes fresh on-site. They share insight into menu customization, complimentary tastings, rental coordination and vendor meals, along with current trends favoring plated dinners and interactive food stations. The conversation also touches on sustainability practices and the collaborative nature of Seattle’s wedding industry, offering valuable planning guidance for couples researching elevated wedding catering options.

Support the show

Produced by Dan Riggs Films & Summit Hill Studios summithillstudios.com
and Iron Diamond Media irondiamondmedia.com

Send a text

🎧 Listen to learn:

• How to decide if a restaurant wedding venue is right for your celebration
• Why food-forward weddings elevate guest experience
• Ways to thoughtfully blend multiple cultures into one wedding day
• What to consider when choosing a photographer for timeless wedding photos
• Tips on planning a large wedding

In this episode of the Wedding Day Podcast, host Sonja Babich, CEO of Iron Diamond Media, sits down with real couple Daphne and Elijah (Eli) live at the Minnesota Wedding Show, hosted by Minnesota Bride. The couple’s wedding was featured in Minnesota Bride’s Spring/Summer 2025 issue, and they share a candid look at planning a culture-rich, food-focused wedding centered on family and guest experience.

Daphne and Eli discuss hosting a full restaurant buyout reception, navigating a large guest count, and making food the centerpiece of their celebration. They also share insight into blending Jewish and Mexican traditions throughout their wedding day, selecting a photographer for timeless imagery, creating a meaningful music experience and embracing flexibility when unexpected moments arise. This episode offers practical guidance for couples exploring nontraditional venues, multicultural wedding planning and guest-first celebrations.

Support the show

Produced by Dan Riggs Films & Summit Hill Studios summithillstudios.com
and Iron Diamond Media irondiamondmedia.com

Send a text

🎧 Listen to learn:

• How live wedding painting works from consultation to final reveal
• What couples should consider when choosing a creative wedding vendor
• How lighting, timing and venue design impact live wedding artwork
• How live wedding art goes beyond guest entertainment
• Why live wedding paintings become meaningful, long-term keepsakes

In this episode of Wedding Day Podcast, Iron Diamond Media owner Sonja Babich is joined by co-host Chelsea Gibson, Editor of Arizona Bride, for a conversation with live wedding painter and artist Paige Reesor. Together, they explore the growing appeal of live wedding painting and why it has become one of the most talked-about experiential wedding details.

Paige shares her background as a portrait artist and former art educator, her transition into full-time live wedding painting, and what couples can expect when booking a wedding artist for their big day. The discussion covers everything from canvas sizing and scene selection to navigating lighting changes, guest interaction and behind-the-scenes logistics. The episode also highlights the emotional impact of seeing a wedding day captured on canvas in real time — and why live wedding paintings often become cherished heirlooms long after the celebration ends.

Support the show

Produced by Dan Riggs Films & Summit Hill Studios summithillstudios.com
and Iron Diamond Media irondiamondmedia.com

Send a text

🎧 Listen to learn:

• How to budget for wedding flowers and understand true floral costs
• Sustainable options for repurposing or composting wedding flowers
• What defines luxury wedding florals beyond just price or size
• When to book your wedding florist and why timing matters
• How floral design transforms a venue and guest experience

In this episode of the Wedding Day Podcast, host Sonja Babich and co-host Sydney Stevens, Editor of Wisconsin Bride and Nebraska Wedding Day and Managing Editor of Minnesota Bride sit down with Sally Vanderwyst, founder of Milwaukee Flower Co., to talk all things wedding flowers — from budgeting and booking timelines to large-scale installations and sustainability.

The episode dives into behind-the-scenes logistics couples rarely consider, like staffing, floral preservation, donation versus composting and the growing trend toward immersive floral installations. Sally offers practical advice for couples on the fence about floral investment, explaining how flowers shape both the visual impact and emotional memory of a wedding day. Whether you’re planning a floral-forward celebration or simply want expert insight into modern wedding flower design, this episode delivers grounded, honest guidance from one of Wisconsin’s most respected floral professionals.

Sally shares her journey as a Midwest-based wedding florist with over 20 years of experience, including how her cutting garden and floral farm influence her design process. The conversation explores what truly makes florals feel “luxury,” how thoughtful curation across flowers, linens, lighting and rentals elevates an event and why full-service setup and teardown matter just as much as the blooms themselves.

Support the show

Produced by Dan Riggs Films & Summit Hill Studios summithillstudios.com
and Iron Diamond Media irondiamondmedia.com

Send a text

🎧 Listen to learn:

• How to write a personalized, emotionally resonant wedding ceremony
• Tips for creating a seamless, high-impact ceremony that flows with the wedding timeline
• Why modern officiants should also be storytellers and performers
• Strategies for helping couples with vows and speeches
• How Weddings Royale supports clients through ceremony coaching and planning

In this episode of the Wedding Day Podcast, host Sonja Babich and co-host Amanda Holder, Publisher of California Wedding Day, sit down with Ryan and Valerie Kingsman — the husband-and-wife team behind Weddings Royale, a California-based officiant company known for their storytelling-first approach to wedding ceremonies.

The conversation dives into the Kingsmans' journey from their own wedding-day challenges to becoming beloved officiants, emcees and ceremony coaches. Together, they've officiated more than 1,200 weddings, blending their backgrounds in journalism, broadcasting and performance to create personalized and joyful ceremonies that resonate with couples and their guests.

Ryan and Valerie discuss their company's mission to elevate ceremonies through intentional storytelling, their new "Royale Couples Connect" community for ongoing support and education and how they help clients navigate vow writing, speech prep and even timeline logistics. From rehearsal coordination to emotional authenticity, Weddings Royale offers a modern, full-experience approach to wedding ceremonies. If you're planning a wedding — or want to reimagine how ceremony storytelling can make your day unforgettable — this episode is not to be missed.

Support the show

Produced by Dan Riggs Films & Summit Hill Studios summithillstudios.com
and Iron Diamond Media irondiamondmedia.com

Send a text

🎧 Listen to learn:

• How expert wedding caterers design guest-focused food experiences
• Creative ways to personalize catering and service for your wedding day
• How to plan a seamless food and beverage timeline for your reception
• The top questions every couple should ask their wedding caterer
• Why hospitality-driven service is a growing trend in luxury weddings

In this episode of Wedding Day Podcast, host Sonja Babich and co-host Sydney Stevens, Editor of Nebraska Wedding Day, Wisconsin Bride, and Managing Editor of Minnesota Bride, sit down with Christie Altendorf, Director of Marketing, and Blake Wangelin, Chef de Cuisine at D’Amico Hospitality, for a deep dive into next-level wedding catering and service.

Broadcasting from Dan Riggs Films’ studio in Minnesota, the conversation explores how thoughtful planning, intentional flow and true hospitality transform food service into a powerful storytelling tool. Christie and Blake discuss the evolution from D’Amico Catering to D’Amico Hospitality, highlighting how couples can lean into creativity, cultural elements and seamless logistics to create unforgettable dining moments on their wedding day. From planning timelines and tasting tips to front-of-house service that feels like family, this episode is packed with insights for couples and pros alike.

Support the show

Produced by Dan Riggs Films & Summit Hill Studios summithillstudios.com
and Iron Diamond Media irondiamondmedia.com

Send a text

🎧 Listen to learn:

• How the system encourages candid, emotional and hilarious messages
• What makes Voast a scalable, no-attendant-needed solution
• Tips for maximizing your post-event footage with custom edits and video books
• How this keepsake becomes one of the most meaningful parts of your wedding
• How Voast reimagines the guest book through custom video prompts
• Why this self-service video booth is a hit with guests and couples

In this episode of Wedding Day Podcast, host Sonja Babich and co-host Alexis Sanabria, Publisher of Oregon Wedding Day and Washington Wedding Day, sit down with Max Losee and Michelle Michaels of Voast, a Seattle-based company transforming wedding guest books through interactive video storytelling.

Max, a filmmaker by trade, shares how Voast was born from a desire to capture heartfelt toasts in a fun, approachable way. Unlike traditional videography or roaming camera crews, Voast empowers guests to leave personal messages on their own time — whether solo or in groups — prompted by customized questions from the couple. With an intuitive setup, nationwide shipping and optional keepsake video books, the booth captures hours of genuine moments that are professionally edited into a story-driven highlight reel. Michelle also dives into Voast’s success with direct-to-consumer marketing and how the experience often surprises couples with just how emotional and valuable the footage becomes.

Whether you’re planning a wedding, birthday, bar mitzvah or fundraiser, this episode is packed with insight into a modern tool that captures joy, humor and heartfelt memories in a way that lives far beyond the event.

Support the show

Produced by Dan Riggs Films & Summit Hill Studios summithillstudios.com
and Iron Diamond Media irondiamondmedia.com

Send a text

🎧 Listen to learn:

• What a circular, or “love circle,” ceremony is and how it creates intimacy
• How to plan a dinner-party-style reception
• How food and design can transform your reception into an experience
• Creative ways to surprise guests with personal wedding details
• Tips for trusting your planner and staying true to your vision

In this episode of Wedding Day Podcast, host Sonja Babich sits down with real-life couple Tim and Adam — featured in the Spring/Summer 2025 issue of Minnesota Bride — to reflect on their unforgettable celebration at the Machine Shop in Minneapolis.

The grooms share how they brought their personalities to life through thoughtful design and intentional choices, from hosting a “love circle” ceremony to creating custom monogrammed pottery bowls used for their soup course and given as keepsakes. They also open up about the emotional impact of their vows, the joy of seeing guests experience the night as a journey, and the spontaneous moments that made their day truly one of a kind — including a surprise Britney Spears dance-floor entrance.

Throughout the conversation, Tim and Adam offer candid advice for couples in the planning process, emphasizing the importance of investing in photography and videography, leaning into creativity and crafting a wedding that feels authentically yours.

Support the show

Produced by Dan Riggs Films & Summit Hill Studios summithillstudios.com
and Iron Diamond Media irondiamondmedia.com

Send a text

🎧 Listen to learn:

• What questions to ask when touring a full-weekend wedding venue
• The guest experience benefits of on-site lodging, dining and activities
• Why infrastructure and vendor access matter for seamless planning
• Ways to make your wedding feel like a joyful retreat for everyone
• How Lied Lodge blends sustainability with timeless wedding design

In this venue tour episode of the Wedding Day Podcast, host Sonja Babich, CEO of Iron Diamond Media, is joined by Brooke Beise, Publisher of Nebraska Wedding Day, for a conversation with Rachel and Patty of Arbor Day Farm and Lied Lodge in Nebraska City. 

From planning multi-day celebrations to choosing between eight distinct venues on the property, the team shares actionable advice and common-sense tips for engaged couples. They explore everything from guest lodging and catering logistics to how the venue supports couples through every stage of the process. 

With an ethos rooted in environmental stewardship, Arbor Day Farm also stands out for its mission-driven celebrations — where each wedding directly contributes to global tree planting efforts.

Support the show

Produced by Dan Riggs Films & Summit Hill Studios summithillstudios.com
and Iron Diamond Media irondiamondmedia.com