Episodios

  • AI Meets ‘I Do’: David’s Bridal President Elina Vilk on Pearl Planner and the Future of Wedding Planning for Brides and Pros
    Jun 25 2025

    On this episode of Love Stories Radio, host Rachel Jo Silver, GM of Media at David's Bridal and founder of Love Stories TV sits down with Elina Vilk, President of David’s Bridal, for the official launch of Pearl Planner—a revolutionary, AI-powered planning platform that’s about to change the way couples plan their weddings.

    Born from David's 70 years of firsthand experience with brides and a passion for solving the real, anxiety-inducing pain points of wedding planning, Pearl Planner replaces your binder, your spreadsheet, and your stress with a personalized, intuitive tool to guide you from “Yes” to “I do.”

    Elina breaks down how Pearl Planner streamlines every step, from building your wedding vision board and timeline to surfacing vendors based on your style, location, and budget—plus, it's 100% free.

    Whether you’re Type A or totally overwhelmed, planning with a pro or flying solo, Pearl meets you where you are and helps you create the wedding you’ve always imagined—minus the burnout.

    Episode Highlights:

    • The Wedding Planning Problem: Why even one task (like engagement photos) is actually 10 hidden tasks—and how Pearl helps.

    • AI, But Make It Romantic: How generative AI powers a fully customizable planning experience that updates in real time.

    •Social Media Meets Sanity: Why pretending wedding pressure doesn’t exist is unhelpful—and how Pearl helps you stay grounded and inspired.

    •Vendors Win, Too: High-intent lead generation for local wedding pros—so no one wastes a single red cent on advertising again.

    •This is David’s Bridal’s love letter to every bride in America—and a game-changer for the entire industry.

    Pearl Planner is now launched in beta. Learn more and request early access at pearl.davidsbridal.com

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    26 m
  • How David’s Bridal is Protecting Brides from Tariffs with CEO Kelly Cook
    Jun 23 2025

    On this episode of Love Stories Radio, host Rachel Jo Silver, Founder of Love Stories TV and GM of Media for David’s Bridal, sits down with Kelly Cook, CEO of David’s Bridal, to unpack a topic that’s top of mind for everyone in the bridal industry: tariffs. Kelly pulls back the curtain on how David’s Bridal remains resilient in a changing global economy and continues to deliver stunning gowns and exceptional value to every bride, no matter what challenges arise behind the scenes. From a deep dive into their vertically integrated supply chain to the artistry behind every hand-sewn bead, this conversation reveals how David’s stays flexible, innovative, and unwaveringly committed to brides and boutique owners alike.

    Episode Highlights: • Tariff Resilience: How vertical integration protects brides from unexpected costs • Around the World: 36 production centers and expert artisans ensure quality and flexibility • Handcrafted Magic: Why David’s gowns are meticulously hand-beaded and custom-designed • Beyond Bridal: How category diversification fuels the brand’s growth and partnerships • Supporting Small Businesses: How David’s scale helps boutique owners thrive

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    25 m
  • Preserving Generations of Wedding Gowns — with Grace Stewart of Unbox the Dress
    May 28 2025

    In this episode of Love Stories Radio, host Rachel Jo Silver—Founder of Love Stories TV and GM of Media for David’s—is joined by Grace Stewart, Founder and CEO of Unbox the Dress, to talk about the emotional and sustainable magic of upcycling wedding gowns into modern heirlooms.

    Rachel and Grace explore how Unbox the Dress is revolutionizing the bridal industry by turning dresses from any era into robes, accessories, and keepsakes that celebrate family, fashion, and storytelling.

    Topics include: - How a mother-daughter moment led to a lightbulb business idea - Why modern brides are embracing dress repurposing - The most unique items they've created from old gowns—including Renaissance fair capes! - How Unbox the Dress partners with David’s Bridal to make this accessible for more brides. - The “dress box” system that makes the upcycling process seamless from start to finish.

    Whether you're a wedding pro, a soon-to-be-bride, or newlywed, this episode will give you the tools—and inspiration— on how to turn a wedding dress into a meaningful heirloom.

    Learn more at David's Bridal and follow @unboxthedress for tips, tools!

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    21 m
  • The App That’s Making Wedding Planning Easier for Everyone
    May 13 2025

    In this episode of Love Stories Radio, host Rachel Silver—Founder of Love Stories TV, GM of Media for David’s, and CPO of David's Pearl Media Network—is joined by Elizabeth Sheils, Co-Founder of Rock Paper Coin and Founder of Bridal Bliss, to talk all things weddings, tech, and how to make wedding planning way less stressful.

    Rachel and Nora dive into the real challenges couples and wedding vendors face when it comes to contracts, payments, and planning tools—and how Rock Paper Coin is changing the game by making the business side of weddings easier and more efficient for everyone involved.

    Topics include:

    - How a decade-plus of wedding planning led Nora to build tech that simplifies every step—from onboarding to final payments. - Why modern couples are expecting digital-first solutions—and how planners and vendors can level up. - The surprising overlap between wedding planning and financial wellness (yes, even prenups came up). - Nora’s own wedding stories, from planning her big day to helping thousands of other couples do the same. - The power of vendor relationships—and how Rock Paper Coin helps streamline them without losing the personal touch.

    Whether you're a wedding pro, an engaged couple, or just obsessed with behind-the-scenes wedding magic, this episode will give you the tools—and inspiration—to make planning feel a little more joyful.

    Learn more at rockpapercoin.com and follow @rockpapercoin for tips, tools, and planner-approved advice!

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    55 m
  • Redefining Bridalwear with Emma McIlroy of Wildfang
    Apr 7 2025

    In this episode of Love Stories Radio, host Rachel Silver—Founder of Love Stories TV, GM of Media for David’s, and CPO of David's Pearl Media Network—is joined by Emma McIlroy, Founder and CEO of Wildfang, to celebrate the launch of Wildfang’s exclusive collaboration with David’s Bridal.

    Rachel and Emma explore what it truly means to show up as yourself on your wedding day—and every day. From the story behind Wildfang’s signature suits to Emma’s own wedding, this episode dives into how style, comfort, and community are reshaping the bridalwear landscape.

    Topics include:

    • Why more brides are ditching the dress in favor of tailored suits—and how the new Wildfang x David’s collection makes that possible. • The emotional power of fit: how clothes that feel right can change everything. • Emma’s viral TED Talk, fossil hunting as a 7-year-old, and the link between curiosity and entrepreneurship. • How customer feedback helped shape the perfect wedding suit—and why rewearable pieces matter. • Building a brand rooted in badassery, inclusivity, and social impact—and how Wildfang has raised over $1 million for women-centered nonprofits.

    Plus, Emma shares real stories from her own wedding planning journey—including what she’d do differently and why spreadsheets were her secret weapon.

    If you're a bride, a fashion lover, or someone who believes weddings should reflect who you are, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to hear how Wildfang and David’s Bridal are redefining bridalwear—and helping people everywhere feel like themselves on the most important day of their lives.

    Shop the Wildfang collection now at https://www.davidsbridal.com!

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    56 m
  • Does David’s Data Back The Trends?
    Feb 11 2025

    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.

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    31 m
  • David's Bridal Acquires Love Stories TV | Kelly Cook, Elina Vilk, Rachel Silver
    Dec 17 2024

    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

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    1 h
  • From Idea to Industry Disruptor: How Glowbar’s CEO Built a Skincare Empire
    Sep 23 2024

    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!

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    39 m