Love Stories Radio

Does David’s Data Back The Trends?

In this special episode of Love Stories Radio, host Rachel Silver, GM of Media for David’s and CPO for Pearl Media Network is joined by Kelly Cook, President, Brand, Technology, & Finance and Co-Chair, Pearl Advisory Board for David’s Bridal and Elina Vilk, Chief Business Officer for David’s Bridal, for an insightful discussion on wedding trends and consumer behavior.
Through a fun and data-driven game of “Trend or False,” the trio dives deep into the latest industry insights—backed by David’s Bridal’s unmatched first-party data. With over 190 stores, 74 years of expertise, and interactions with 90% of U.S. brides, David’s Bridal has a pulse on what’s really happening in weddings.Topics include:
The rise of green bridesmaids' dresses and why 24% of sales for 2025 are in shades like dusty sage and emerald.
The truth about mix-and-match bridesmaids’ styles—are uniform colors still the norm?
Bridgerton-inspired corsetry and quiet luxury gowns—how structured bodices are trending in 2025.
The reality of online vs. in-store shopping and why most wedding dress purchases still happen in person.
What brides actually spend on their gowns—why the majority budget between $500-$1,500 rather than luxury price points.
Plus, an inside look at David’s Bridal’s evolving role in the wedding industry, including expanding product offerings beyond bridalwear and the success of its Diamond Loyalty Program, which has already awarded thousands of free honeymoons.If you're a wedding industry professional, retailer, or marketer, this episode provides essential consumer insights to help you understand where the wedding market is headed. Tune in now to stay ahead of the trends shaping weddings in 2025!
We’d love to hear from you! Send us your wedding questions or share your favorite trends at podcasts@lovestoriestv.com. 

David's Bridal Acquires Love Stories TV | Kelly Cook, Elina Vilk, Rachel Silver

It's Official! David’s Bridal, the nation’s leading bridal, wedding planning, and special occasion authority, today announced the launch of Pearl Media Network and the acquisition of Love Stories TV, the top wedding media brand taking a digital-first approach to wedding content and inspiration with over 20M viewers per month across content platforms and a library of over 30,000 real wedding videos. Taking the next step in becoming the ubiquitous leader in all things wedding, this strategic move transcends David’s from the wedding industry’s leading retailer to the industry’s rising tech and media company helping brides, grooms and anyone looking for wedding inspiration connect the dots under one brand. 
On this episode of Love Stories Radio, Rachel Silver the new GM of Media for David’s and CPO for Pearl Media Network interviews Kelly Cook, President, Brand, Technology, & Finance and Co-Chair, Pearl Advisory Board for David’s Bridal and Elina Vilk, Chief Business Officer for David’s Bridal. In this conversation the three share how the new partnership came together and their joint vision for how David's Bridal will continue to serve brides and expand its offering for wedding vendors, SMBs, and enterprise partners. 
Learn more here: https://pearl.davidsbridal.com/inspiration/press/davids-bridal-launches-love-stories-by-davids/
WHAT IS LOVE STORIES TV? Love Stories TV is a media and entertainment company delivering heartwarming stories, superstar experts and amazing weddings to a passionate audience. FOLLOW US: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovestoriestv https://www.instagram.com/lovestoriestv https://www.facebook.com/lovestoriestv https://www.pinterest.com/lovestoriestv https://www.snapchat.com/add/lovestoriestv

From Idea to Industry Disruptor: How Glowbar’s CEO Built a Skincare Empire

In this episode of Love Stories Radio, Founder and CEO of Love Stories TV, Rachel Jo Silver, sits down with Rachel Liverman, the CEO of Glowbar. As a third-generation esthetician and beauty industry expert, Rachel shares her journey of founding Glowbar, a first-to-market 30-minute customized membership facial concept. Tune in as they discuss the importance of professional skincare for brides, why monthly facials are a game-changer, and how Rachel successfully navigated launching a business just before the pandemic. Plus, get tips on how to prep your skin in the months leading up to your wedding day!
Follow @glowbar and @lovestoriestv for more!

Why Word-of-Mouth Marketing is a Myth: Mastering Real Strategies for Success

In this episode of Love Stories Radio, Founder and CEO of Love Stories TV, Rachel Silver, sits down with Persephone Maglaya, CEO of The Media Socialites. As a luxury marketing expert and social media influencer, Persephone shares insights from her extensive experience working with top brands and professionals in the weddings and lifestyle industries. Tune in as they discuss why word-of-mouth marketing is a myth, the importance of embracing your strengths (and weaknesses!), and why having a solid marketing strategy is essential for success—even if you're already a pro at your craft. Follow @themediasocialites and @lovestoriestv for more!

#101: This married videographer duo has half a million TikTok followers! Featuring Alex and Jon of Madison Grey Media

On today’s episode, Rachel talks to a dynamic duo—husband and wife team, Alex and Jon of Madison Grey Media. This videography team is known not only for their beautiful wedding films (check them out on lovestoriestv.com) but, more recently, for their viral status on TikTok. Alex and Jon have gained a loyal following of over a half a million TikTok followers! Because of their success on TikTok, they decided to start a podcast, Give It To Me Straight, which gives their followers even more of this straightforward, funny couple. In this episode, Rachel chatted the two about how they met (Tinder—it does work!), how they got started on TikTok, why it’s important to hire wedding professionals not just for their work and their advice for other couples and wedding pros. 
Watch Madison Grey Media’s wedding films and book them for your wedding on http://lovestoriestv.com, check out their TikTok @alexandramadison_ and their podcast, Give It To Me Straight.
*Get 10% off Buffr, the ultimate silicone ring guard to protect your rings while you work out. Just use code LSTV10 at mybuffr.com.*

#100: The biggest wedding dress trends of 2022, plus an exciting launch! Featuring Katie Kortebein of Love Stories TV

It’s our 100th episode of the podcast, which is just so crazy! To celebrate, Rachel interviewed our very own Katie Kortebein, Head of Editorial at Love Stories TV. If you find yourself crying whenever you catch our videos on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube—you have Katie to thank. Last week, Katie was busy running around New York City attending Bridal Fashion Week and, on this episode, she shares what she saw at both the virtual and in-person presentations. Plus, we’ll share our newest project—bridalfashionmonth.com, a destination where YOU can see all of the latest wedding day fashions and find retailers who carry them. This is the first destination where soonlyweds can get the same access to the latest bridal styles that buyers and editors get at New York Bridal Fashion Week. It's the easiest and most fun way to shop for your wedding day look. Make sure you’re following @lovestoriestv everywhere and visit bridalfashionmonth.com to browse and find retailers for all of the newest wedding looks and styles.

#99: Is a micro wedding right for you? Featuring Featuring Carly Ragosta of BloomBar

On today’s episode, Rachel chats with her friend, Carly Ragosta of BloomBar Floral & Event Design, a boutique floral and event design studio based in New York City. Carly is one of the very first wedding pros she met and befriended when starting Love Stories TV. Honestly? Everyone should get to work with Carly on their wedding! Carly and Rachel talk about the benefits of having a small wedding (even if it wasn’t your original plan), the difference between a floral designer, a florist and an event designer—p.s. you need to know this when hiring your wedding team!—and so much more. See real wedding videos that feature Carly’s work and contact her about your upcoming event on lovestoriestv.com.

#98: The right way to think about your wedding budget. Featuring Shane McMurray, founder of The Wedding Report

On this episode, Rachel interviews Shane McMurray, founder of The Wedding Report, a research company that collects and forecasts wedding statistics for the wedding industry. Since 2005, they've collected over 600,000 survey samples and hundreds of thousands of other facts about the wedding industry. They help couples better understand how the decisions they make impact how much they spend. They've also helped tens of thousands of businesses and researchers all over the world gain a better understanding of the wedding industry. Listen to hear Shane’s super smart advice for couples about how to REALLY think about wedding costs and trends and how the media so often gets it wrong. He also has predictions about how COVID will and won't continue to impact events and the wedding industry. 
Do you have a wedding question you want answered on a future episode or have someone you want us to interview? Are YOU a soonlywed or newlywed with an interesting wedding journey and advice to share? DM us on Instagram @lovestoriestv!

#97: You NEED to hear this advice about dress alterations & shopping, featuring Beth Chapman of The White Dress By the Shore

On today’s episode, Rachel chats with longtime friend of Love Stories TV, Beth Chapman. Beth is the founder of The White Dress Society (a professional organization for bridal salon owners), a veteran of the fashion industry and is known for her work as a bridal boutique owner, stylist mentor, author and wedding fashion consultant. In this episode, they get into the nitty gritty of how Covid has and still is impacting bridal salons in terms of staff, inventory and appointments. Beth discusses some things even Rachel didn’t know about wedding styling and dress alterations and has some of the best advice yet about shopping for your wedding dress. If you’re looking now or about to start, you’re going to want to listen!
 
Do you have a wedding question you want answered on a future episode or have someone you want us to interview? Are YOU a soonlywed or newlywed with an interesting wedding journey and advice to share? DM us on Instagram @lovestoriestv!

#96: This influencer’s wedding was almost ruined—TWICE! Featuring Sarah Merrill Hall, aka @BigKidProblems

On today’s episode, Rachel interviews Sarah Merrill Hall—the comedian, content creator, and personality behind the @BigKidProblems Instagram and podcast—and it’s one of our favorite and funniest episodes to-date. Sarah and her husband, Brandon, were recently married at ONEHOPE’s winery in Napa (Brandon is the co-founder and chief brand officer of ONEHOPE Wine). Sarah’s wedding journey is one that a lot of you will be able to relate to...first, it was disrupted by Covid and then by weather! Listen to hear how Sarah and Brandon made the decision to postpone their wedding and then alter their venue at the last minute. Plus, she has some really smart—and surprising—advice for those of you still planning right now.
Do you have a wedding question you want answered on a future episode or have someone you want us to interview? Are YOU a soonlywed or newlywed with an interesting wedding journey and advice to share? DM us on Instagram @lovestoriestv!