Vendor Voices with WeddingPro

WeddingPro, Powered by The Knot and WeddingWire
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Vendor Voices is a conversation series with wedding professionals across all vendor categories sharing real stories and practical business insights. Hosted by industry experts, each episode digs into what it actually takes to grow—from lead management and social media to trends and data-backed insights. Built for busy creative entrepreneurs, Vendor Voices brings you peer-driven wisdom and real-world strategies to help you navigate change, grow your business, and succeed through every wedding season. Presented by WeddingPro, part of The Knot Worldwide, dedicated to helping wedding vendors grow.

Episodes

  1. Jul 29

    AI Search for Wedding Pros: What to Know and How to Show Up

    AI search is shifting the broader search experience from a list of links to more curated recommendations. Join WeddingPro AI specialist MaryKate Callahan and WeddingPro Educators Irene Katzias and Walter McClellan for a practical conversation on how that shift may impact visibility—and what wedding pros can do to prepare. The big questions we’ll answer: What does AI search mean for your business? Get a clearer look at how couples are using AI, search and social to discover wedding pros before they reach out.What helps your business show up in more places? Learn how trusted online sources, consistent business information and a strong digital presence can support visibility.How can you make your business easier to understand? Get practical tips to help AI and search tools recognize what you offer, where you work and why couples should choose you. Meet your speakers: MaryKate Callahan Director of Content Strategy, The Knot Worldwide MaryKate Callahan is Director of Marketing Strategy and an AI specialist at The Knot Worldwide, where she helps shape AI search strategy across consumer and wedding professional audiences. With more than a decade of experience in content, growth marketing and search, she works on initiatives that strengthen TKWW’s visibility across emerging AI-powered discovery experiences. When she’s not tracking algorithm shifts or analyzing search trends, you can usually find her at the beach or scouting the latest fashion trends. Irene Katzias Founder, Irene + Co Events Irene Katzias is the Founder and Creative Director of Irene + Co Events, an event design and production firm specializing in highly customized celebrations. With more than a decade of experience, she is known for transforming spaces through thoughtful design, strategic logistics, and flawless execution. Irene is also a WeddingPro Educator and sought-after speaker whose work has been featured in The Knot, People, The New York Post, Carats & Cake, the Los Angeles Times, and more. When she's not building extraordinary experiences, you'll find her riding bikes with her twin daughters. Walter McClellan Founder & CEO, Toast Entertainment Walter McClellan is the founder and CEO of Toast Entertainment, a multi-service event company offering DJ, photography, videography, photo booth and coordination services across nine markets. Since launching Toast in 2010, he has grown the company into one of the most-reviewed vendors on The Knot. As a WeddingPro Educator and industry speaker, Walter helps wedding pros build more sustainable businesses through stronger systems, strategy and service. When he’s not building companies or coaching leaders, he’s chasing adventure with his wife, Liz, and their son, Benjamin.

    AI Search for Wedding Pros: What to Know and How to Show Up

  2. May 20

    How to Turn Leads into Bookings

    Join our panel of experts for a deep dive into your most-requested topic: leads! You’ll learn proven strategies, follow-up techniques and how to turn leads into booked clients with tools like the Inbox Automation Suite. Then stay for a live Q&A with questions from the audience. It’s our 30th anniversary, but we’re toasting to you—the magic makers—and turning National Small Business Week into a month-long celebration this May. That means education from some of the best in the industry on the topics that matter 
most to you, like booking more leads. The big questions we’ll answer: What are you missing in your follow-up strategy? Pinpoint exactly where you’re losing couples, so you make decisions based on facts, not feelings.How do you turn follow-ups from noise to noticed? Get tips on what to say, when to say it and how to use our Inbox Automation Suite to say it faster.How do you catch Gen Z’s eye in their inbox? They now make up 41% of the market—and their expectations are different from generations past. Meet your speakers: Robyn Miranda Senior Director of Learning and Development, Wedgewood Weddings Robyn has been in the wedding industry since 2012, with experience in sales, operations and corporate leadership roles. As Director of Sales Training at Wedgewood Weddings, she brings a practical, full-picture view of what it takes to run a successful venue—from driving revenue to delivering a consistent client experience. Her work supports teams across 80+ venues nationwide. Shannon Tarrant Wedding Sales Strategist, Wedding Venue Map Shannon is a wedding sales strategist who helps venues and vendors turn inquiries into booked clients. With over 15 years as an off-site caterer and venue manager, she built multiple businesses into local leaders by focusing on conversion, positioning and a clear sales process. Today, she leads Wedding Venue Map and teaches event pros how to fix sales gaps, build trust with couples and book more without relying on discounts. Tom Chelednik Director of Vendor Engagement, The Knot Worldwide Tom brings over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, with 15 of those years spent in the wedding industry. At The Knot Worldwide, Tom has helped hundreds of wedding professionals book more weddings and grow their businesses. He also served as the COO of The Treasury Venue Collection in St. Augustine, Florida, where he gained firsthand experience running a wedding venue.

    How to Turn Leads into Bookings

  3. Apr 15

    Navigating Social Media and Content Creation

    Join our panel of vendors as they chat through common social media mistakes, platform nuances and couples’ search behavior.  Social media is a business card for your brand. It’s where you build awareness and show couples who you are. But if you’re like the 87% of pros who use it for personal posts, you may not have a strategy behind your presence. The big questions we’ll answer: Where does social media fit in your marketing mix? Get a clearer view of what works on social and where to focus your time.Which platforms do couples use most?90% of couples want a highly personalized wedding—and that influences where they look.What are common mistakes to avoid? You might even be making them now. Tune in for a few ways to
course correct. Meet your speakers: Jason Rhee Founder & Creative Director, Rheefined Company @jasonroars With nearly two decades in the wedding and events industry, Jason has built a reputation for combining thoughtful design, meticulous logistics and a signature sense of humor. His luxury event planning, design and floral studio is known for producing personalized celebrations and experiences around the world. Malike Adigun Founder & CEO, Curate Entertainment @dj_malike_ Malike has spent over 15 years creating meaningful experiences in the wedding and events industry while building teams, leading with intention and putting people first. Whether speaking to entrepreneurs or creatives, Malike challenges audiences to show up with intention and lead in a way that creates impact. Lily LaFave Founder & Creative Director, LaFave Media @lafavemedia As social media continues to evolve, Lily helps wedding pros cut through the noise and attract their dream clients. Her boutique media agency specializes in social media management, brand strategy and content creation for vendors. Kea Baker Founder, Curated by Kea @curatedxkea Kea believes the wedding industry isn’t built on transactions; it’s built on stories. Her content creation brand, Curated by Kea, serves modern couples, event hosts and creative entrepreneurs. She’s also spent years helping wedding pros—both seasoned and new—move beyond a “post and pray” approach using sales-driven content strategies and storytelling.

    Navigating Social Media and Content Creation

  4. Mar 11

    The Knot Real Weddings Study 2026

    One of the most trusted data-driven studies in the wedding industry is back—this year, with a twist! In this vodcast, we’re breaking down our latest and most reliable insights to help you understand how weddings are changing, and what it means for vendors like you. This year, we’re bringing you all of the important insights from The Knot Real Weddings ‘26 study through our new vodcast, Vendor Voices. Tune in for a conversation with industry experts to unpack all the need-to-know info on today’s couples and how it’s relevant to vendors. Meet your speakers: Tom Chelednik Director, Vendor Engagement | The Knot Worldwide Tom Chelednik brings over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing, with 15 of those years spent in the wedding industry. At The Knot Worldwide, Tom has helped hundreds of wedding professionals book more weddings and grow their businesses. He then served as the COO of The Treasury Venue Collection in St. Augustine, Florida, where he gained firsthand experience operating a wedding venue. Terrica WeddingPro Educator | Terrica Inc. Terrica has spent eighteen years creating exquisite weddings in the Golden Isles, earning industry recognition and national media features. She is an award-nominated educator, founder of “Hustle Sold Separately” and “Hustle & Co.,” and host of the “She Doesn’t Even Go Here” podcast. Ian Ramirez WeddingPro Educator | Madera Estates Named Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, Ian José Ramirez, is Co-Owner of Madera Estates, an award-winning Spanish and European-inspired wedding and event venue in Conroe, Texas. An internationally trained opera singer turned industry leader, Ian is a Certified Special Events Professional and sought-after speaker who is passionate about educating fellow event professionals and giving back to his community.

    The Knot Real Weddings Study 2026
  • 4 Episodes

About

Vendor Voices is a conversation series with wedding professionals across all vendor categories sharing real stories and practical business insights. Hosted by industry experts, each episode digs into what it actually takes to grow—from lead management and social media to trends and data-backed insights. Built for busy creative entrepreneurs, Vendor Voices brings you peer-driven wisdom and real-world strategies to help you navigate change, grow your business, and succeed through every wedding season. Presented by WeddingPro, part of The Knot Worldwide, dedicated to helping wedding vendors grow.

Information

  • Creator
    WeddingPro, Powered by The Knot and WeddingWire
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © WeddingPro, Powered by The Knot and WeddingWire
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    Vendor Voices with WeddingPro