Friendors: Friendly Conversations with the Vendors Behind Your City's Best Weddings

Friendors Podcast  ·  Episode Feature The Other Path Into Weddings: Brittany on Hospitality, Heritage, and Rising Through the Ranks at The Vancouver Club What if you could build a whole career in the wedding industry without ever starting a business of your own? In this episode of Friendors, host Shawn Miller sits down with Brittany, Director of Catering at The Vancouver Club, for an honest conver...

Friendors Podcast  ·  Episode Feature Good Enough to Stay Forever: Lenny Palerstein on Burnout, Betting on Himself, and the Leap to Full-Time What does it take to walk away from a job with a full pension, full benefits, and a paycheck for eight hours of work you actually finish in four? In this episode of Friendors, host Shawn Miller sits down with fingerstyle guitarist Lenny Palerstein for an hon...

Friendors Podcast  ·  Episode Feature The Ceremony Stays a Secret: Stephanie Veri on Burnout, Building Trust, and Planning the Wedding You Actually Want She showed up as an emergency guest, ready in under an hour. But honestly, that's peak Stephanie Veri, and it tracks with everything she's built over the past 15+ years. Stephanie is the founder of Sweetheart Events Inc., Vancouver's premier weddi...

The Man Behind the Camera: Simon of Capture Media In this candid episode of Friendors, host Shawn Miller sits down with Simon, the videographer and producer behind the Friendors podcast itself, to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a wedding video business from scratch. Simon opens up about an origin story that started with a GoPro strapped to a helmet on the slopes of Cypres...

Ep 16 - You Can't Beat the Game: Graham of Grey House Visual on Teaching Yourself, Staying Invisible, and Why the Feeling Always Wins | Friendors Podcast What happens when a guy who learned to film by chasing skateboarders around a park ends up building one of Vancouver's most respected wedding film companies without a single day of formal training? In this episode of Friendors, host Shawn Miller...

  He Got Laid Off with a Two-Month-Old at Home: DJ B-Fad on Reading Rooms, Trusting Your Gut, and Building a Referral Business That Does the Talking For You | Friendors Podcast What happens when you lose your job the same month you become a father — and your wife just says, go DJ for a bit ? In this episode of Friendors, host Shawn Miller sits down with Bret, better known as DJ B-Fad, for a conver...

She Gave the First One Away: Nicole of Pop-Up Weddings BC on Doing It Afraid and Loving What You Built | Friendors Podcast What happens when you give away your very first wedding - and that single act of generosity becomes the foundation for an entire career? In this episode of Friendors, host Shawn Miller sits down with Nicole, the founder of Pop-Up Weddings BC, for a conversation over a decade i...

Different Is the Superpower: Chris & Sam of Isle + Oak Photography on Partnership, Identity, and the Wedding Work They Were Told Not to Do | Friendors Podcast What happens when you build an entire career around the one thing you were told never to do? In this dynamic Season 2 premiere of Friendors, host Shawn Miller sits down with Chris and Sam, the creative duo behind Isle + Oak Photography, to u...

What does it really take to build a creative business, raise kids, and protect your marriage— all at the same time ? In this deeply honest and insightful episode of Friendors , host Shawn Miller sits down with returning guest Erica Miller , photographer and co-owner of Young Hip & Married , to unpack over 15 years in the wedding industry , entrepreneurship through parenthood, and the realities of...

In this episode of  Friendors , host Shawn Miller sits down with Esther Moerman to unpack how mindset, energy, and genuine human connection can shape a wildly successful wedding photography brand . Esther shares her journey from shooting weddings for free and learning through "YouTube University" to becoming a sought-after destination wedding photographer . She opens up about building confidence,...

In this high-energy episode of Friendors , host Shawn Miller sits down with Rob Hamilton , the mastermind behind Side One Entertainment , to explore what it really takes to turn a passion for music into a multi-city wedding and events entertainment company . From starting as a working musician and jazz guitarist to leading a 150+ performer roster and managing 250+ gigs per year , Rob shares hard-w...

In this inspiring episode of Friendors , host Shawn Miller sits down with industry icon Genève McNally of DreamGroup Weddings & Events to explore the essential role of vendor relationships in creating extraordinary wedding experiences. With over two decades of leadership in Vancouver's wedding community, Genève shares powerful insights on teamwork, trust, communication, and the magic that happens...

In this dynamic episode of the Friendors Podcast , Shawn Miller sits down with Reuben Major , one of Vancouver's most influential voices in hospitality and venue design. From transforming industrial spaces into immersive experiences to building cultural landmarks like Vancouver Urban Winery , Havana , and The Flamingo Room , Reuben shares how he blends design, storytelling, and community to create...

In this heartfelt episode of  Friendors , host Shawn Miller sits down with Lauren Kirkey of Young Hip & Married to explore what it truly means to create inclusive, meaningful, and deeply personal wedding ceremonies. Lauren opens up about her journey as a queer officiant, the importance of representation , and why there are truly no wasted experiences when it comes to building a career centered on...

In this episode of Friendors , host Shawn Miller sits down with Jeff Chang , the creative force behind The Apartment Photography , to explore how nearly two decades of experience in the photography world have shaped his artistry, teaching, and philosophy on creative work. Jeff opens up about his journey from self-taught photographer to respected educator, reflecting on how the industry has evolved...

In this episode of Friendors , host Shawn Miller sits down with Erin Bishop , founder of the award-winning Filosophi Events , to talk about creativity, connection, and what it takes to build a meaningful brand in the modern wedding industry. Erin shares the story behind her company's original tagline — "A Cure for the Common Wedding" — and how that philosophy has guided her through more than a dec...

In this inspiring episode of  Friendors , host Shawn Miller sits down with Jasmine Hoffman , one of Vancouver's most recognized makeup artists, to talk about her 25-year career in beauty and weddings. From studying at Vancouver Film School to working with thousands of brides and top brands, Jasmine shares how she built a lasting business through authenticity, consistency, and a whole lot of pink ....

In this episode of  Friendors , host Shawn Miller sits down with Ashton Pollock , the creative force behind Bespoke Decor , one of Vancouver's most beloved event and wedding design companies. Ashton shares the real story of how her business started — with nothing more than a napkin sketch and a vision — and grew into a thriving creative team known for transforming spaces into unforgettable experie...

In this episode of Friendors , host  Shawn Miller  sits down with  Shyah Yan Zarrabi , the creative force behind  Shyah K Films , to talk about his journey from creative curiosity to becoming one of the most sought-after wedding filmmakers in the business. Shyah opens up about the  mistakes that shaped his success , how he learned to  trust his creative process , and the importance of doing the "r...

In our premier episode of  Friendors , host Shawn Miller welcomes his wife, photographer and co-owner of Young Hip & Married, Erica Miller, to share her journey from shooting with a hot pink film camera as a kid, to building a career in the wedding industry. Together, they reminisce about their early days: film rolls, first gigs, learning Photoshop from scratch, and the chaos of photographing a we...

Listen to 'Friendors: Friendly Conversations with the Vendors Behind Your City's Best Weddings' everywhere on October 6th. Stay connected with us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ friendorspodcast/