We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christine & Rio Schad a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Christine & Rio, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Caller I Do started pretty simply—with a wedding, a lot of love, and a feeling that something was missing.

When we were planning our own big day, we knew we wanted a way to capture the voices and energy of our guests. Something more personal than a traditional guestbook. We started looking into audio guestbooks, but the options we found felt kind of generic. They didn’t match the vibe we were going for, and honestly, they just didn’t feel special.

So we decided to make our own.

We sourced a beautiful vintage-style phone, recorded a custom greeting, and added a soft ring feature that would catch people’s attention throughout the night. We set it up at our reception not knowing what to expect—but by the end of the evening, it was full of the most incredible messages: hilarious stories, sweet well wishes, and voices we never wanted to forget.

That was the moment we realized we were onto something.

It wasn’t just about recording messages—it was about creating a personalized experience where people felt invited to pause and share something real. And that stuck with us.

We figured if we were looking for that kind of experience, other couples probably were too. So we built Caller I Do—starting small, with a handful of phones and a lot of heart. Over time, it’s grown into something much bigger. Now, we help people across the country capture the joy, the laughter, and the once-in-a-lifetime moments at weddings, showers, birthdays—you name it.

Christine & Rio, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

We’re a husband-and-wife team—my name is Christine, and my background is in marketing. My husband, Rio, is an engineer. We launched Caller I Do after designing and building our own audio guestbook for our wedding at the iconic La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla. We knew we wanted to capture the voices of our loved ones, but the options we found on the market felt impersonal, clunky, and lacked the elegance we wanted for our day. So, we created our own: a beautiful vintage candlestick phone, complete with a personalized greeting and a soft auto-ring feature that gently invited guests to pick up the phone and share a message.

The response from our guests was beyond anything we expected—people laughed, cried, and left us the kind of memories we knew we’d cherish forever. That experience sparked an idea: if we wanted something more meaningful and personal, other people probably did too. With my background in branding, and Rio’s technical expertise, we realized we had the right combination of skills to bring something entirely new to life. That’s how Caller I Do was born.

Caller I Do transforms the guestbook experience into something interactive, emotional, and completely unique. Here’s what our clients receive:
• A vintage-inspired audio guestbook phone—designed for beauty and functionality
• A personalized greeting, so guests hear your voice before leaving their own
• Our signature Ring True™ Technology—a motion-triggered soft ring that draws attention in a playful, gentle way as guests pass by
• A variety of customizable printable signage to match your event’s style and help guide guests
• A seamless setup and return process
• Professionally edited digital recordings, delivered after the event with optional add-ons like engraved USBs or custom audio montages

Caller I Do isn’t just a product—it’s a deeply considered, emotionally-driven experience. What makes us different:
• Personalization at the core: From your recorded greeting to the engraved signage, every touchpoint is tailored.
• Proprietary technology: Our Ring True™ feature adds interactivity without being disruptive.
• In-house craftsmanship: Unlike many competitors, we don’t outsource. Every phone is built, customized, and tested by us—ensuring quality and care from start to finish.
• A family-run feel with national reach: We offer the professionalism and polish of a big brand, but deliver with the warmth and responsiveness of a small business.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Our best source of new clients has been word of mouth—hands down. There’s something about the emotional impact of our audio guestbooks that really sticks with people. When guests experience Caller I Do at an event, they not only leave a message—they feel something. And that often leads to someone reaching out later with, “I saw this at my friend’s wedding and have to have it for mine.”

We’ve also seen strong results from social media, especially Instagram and TikTok, where people can visually connect with the design of our phones and hear the heartfelt or hilarious messages that guests leave. Seeing (and hearing) the product in action helps bring the experience to life in a way that static advertising can’t.

In addition, referrals from planners, photographers, and past clients have been incredibly meaningful. When a wedding pro or former client recommends us, it comes with trust already built in—and that’s something we value deeply.

So while we’ve put effort into marketing and outreach, our growth has truly been powered by genuine enthusiasm and real experiences shared by the people who’ve used our guestbooks. That’s something we’re really proud of.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One standout moment came when a customer’s audio guestbook shipment was delayed just days before their wedding. It was a high-pressure situation — the phone was stuck in transit, and we knew there wasn’t much time to make it right.

Rather than waiting and hoping the original would arrive, Rio quickly assembled a new phone, programmed and tested it, and we overnighted it to the venue. It arrived in time for the wedding, and the couple never had to worry.

That experience reinforced the importance of staying calm under pressure and doing whatever it takes to deliver — especially when someone is counting on you for one of the most important days of their life. It wasn’t easy, but it’s moments like that that shape the identity of a small business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://callerido.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/callerido/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/callerido
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@callerido

Image Credits

Tyler Edwards Photography