Tune in for answers to your wedding questions in a brand new episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast: Hosting tips for a casual micro-wedding the month after ceremony? We will already be technically married at our celebration - should we share this w/ our guests? What about the non-dancers at our reception?  Additional activiites? Choosing bridesmaids dilemma Controversy over suggesting what your guests "should" wear to the wedding celebration >>> As always, you can submit your wedding questions here, or send me an email:  k a r a {at} weddingplanningpodcast.co >>> Keep in touch on Instagram!  Follow @weddingplanningpodcast  If you’re newly engaged and wondering where to even begin with with your wedding plans, then you’ll definitely want to grab a FREE Wedding Planning Podcast Engagement Starter Kit.   I’ve packaged up a 4-part bonus audio series that reveals 3 essential keys to a stress-free and FUN wedding planning experience.  Better yet, you’ll have instant access to EIGHT additional bonus planning resources, each carefully designed to make your engagement season full of joy, and free from overwhelm. This is a completely FREE gift from me to you, and I hope you love it!   Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking!

Believe it or not, there is a specific formula to experiencing a streamlined, stress-free wedding planning journey - and it has just 3 KEY INGREDIENTS. Today in Part One of the Wedding Planning Podcast Engagement Starter Kit, you’re going to discover the FIRST KEY to streamlined, stress-free wedding planning.   And what we’re talking about today can still apply to you ... even if you’ve been engaged for months (or years!), you've already started booking stuff, or maybe even finalized most of the big decisions.   It’s never too late for a heart-to-heart refresh + refocus on the core reasons why you’re planning this wedding in the first place! FREE GIFT TIME! >>> I have ALL four parts of this magical series packaged up and ready for you to binge listen to after today’s show, along with lots of additional bonus resources and free gifts.  To access the full Engagement Starter Kit planning package right now, for FREE, simply CLICK HERE, Or visit wedpodcast.com when you have a hands-free moment. Yes signing up requires your email address, no I will not spam email you a hundred times a week, and no it does NOT require a credit card or any payment whatsoever. Enjoy! xo Kara   PS - Thank you for supporting this week's show sponsor, Susan's Travel Services. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Get ready for a jam-packed Wedding Q&A show, full of your planning questions & concerns!  Here's a sampling of what's on the menu this week: How much alcohol to buy? >>> click here for one of my favorite hosting tools ever (and tune in to my full answer for lots more helpful tips on the topic!) What can we expect for the price of flowers? Who pays for the bridal shower, & should I offer to help? >>> click here for blog post "Practical Bridal Shower Gift Ideas" Fiance doesn't want any wedding party at all, but I do.  How to proceed? Rehearsal dinner options are way too expensive.  Advice on making it more affordable? Should we hire a babysitter for our reception? Do we have to seat wedding party members with their dates? SUBMIT YOUR WEDDING QUESTIONS HERE. YES, it's totally annonymous, YES I really want to hear from you, and no - I won't use your name or voice on the show! Thanks for being here, and we'll meet again next week! Cheers, Kara PS - An EXTRA special thank you for supporting today's show sponsors! It's time to forget overpriced, unhealthy, and time-consuming takeout!  Head to factormeals.com/wedding50 and use code wedding50 to get 50% off your first box and 2 free wellness shots per box while subscription is active. FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your FREE wedding website today when you visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Today we’re going to chat about a handful of ways when trying to "save" money on your wedding can totally BACKFIRE.  Aside of college educations, new homes and new cars, your wedding likely has one of the biggest price tags you’ve ever paid. You’re spending tens of thousands of dollars - of course you’re trying to save money when possible! FULL BLOG POST HERE >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/wedding-pitfall You’re not out there researching the most expensive venue in your area, or trying to find ways to spend more money on your invitations. When a potential photographer or caterer gives you a quote for services, you probably don’t say “well that sounds OK, but do you have anything that costs more?” If you've been listening to the Wedding Planning Podcast for a while, I hope you know me well enough now to know that I’m NOT the wedding professional who’s going to tell you NEVER to try to cut this corner, or don’t DARE hire a friend to do x, y, z. I see this type of messaging a lot. If you do your own wedding day hair and makeup it will totally fail, and you should hire a professional to do it for you. If you skimp on a photographer, you will regret it for the rest of your life. If you have your cousin make your cake, it will probably be a complete disaster, you should really hire a professional for that. If you take your dress to a neighborhood tailor instead of the big box bridal store where you bought it, it’s going to end up in shreds and you’ll have no dress to wear. The trouble is, professional service providers in pretty much any industry have an agenda - to sell their product or service. And whether you hear from a wedding professional on a podcast, read their articles on a blog, or see their posts on Instagram, their position is probably that hiring a professional is THE BEST way to go. "After all", they say, "this is your wedding - you can’t afford to cut corners on the best day of your life." Well, for lots of this, I call BS. Sure, if you have a wedding budget in the 6-figures, then “hire a professional” is a great option for everything I just listed. But most of us DON’T have $100,000 to spend on our wedding, so making swaps and saves here and there is a necessary part of planning so that we don’t go thousands of dollars into debt - NEVER a good idea. Here’s a doozy for you - we hired our wedding photographer off craigslist for $500. True story. And I’m NOT here to tell you that it was a horrible idea that backfired and you should never trust any wedding photographer who hasn’t shot 500 weddings and costs less than $5000. That’s not me, not my style. BUT, I’m also not here to tell you that YOU should definitely hire a photographer off craigslist, and it will work out perfectly and there’s no risk involved and you can live happy ever after and sleep soundly knowing that you saved a couple thousand dollars! To be clear - there’s no right or wrong, one-size-fits all solution to the myriad of wedding decisions you have to make over the next few months. I’ll always encourage you to use your intuition, and use our weekly time together to review all the options you have available, and select what feels best for you and your unique situation. I feel so strongly about what we’re talking about today, and I really want to set things up right. The truth is, sometimes no matter how much research you do, or how many great reviews someone has, or how confident you feel that you’re making the right decision, things can just go wrong. You’ll probably have a wedding backfire, or two, or three over the course of getting everything lined up. This is part of life, and definitely a part of wedding planning. I wish I could wave a magical wand that would shield you against anything bad happening, but of course - that’s not realistic. Sooooo, the next best thing to that … In today's show, let’s explore some common areas of wedding planning where couples to try to cut a corner, save some money, leave something out, and then sadly have it backfire in terms of lost money, lost time, lost sanity - and sometimes all three. If you find yourselves at a cost-saving opportunity crossroads and you don’t know which way to turn, I have some smart questions to ask yourselves, and potential vendors, that I hope will guide you towards making the best decisions for you and your wedding day. So when you find yourself wondering, hmmmmm ... should we cut that corner? What are the potential outcomes or pitfalls that might come of it? Hopefully after today’s show, you’ll have some solid answers to some of the most common situations, so that you can make the best decision for you. For one wedding, that might mean hiring a photographer off craigslist for $500. For another couple, that will NEVER be an option that’s on the table. And you know what? Both sides are totally fine ;) Full blog post available at www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/wedding-pitfall A special thank you to today's show sponsors: Take advantage of expert travel planning services for your all-inclusive, cruise, or exotic honeymoon AND get $50 off when you book!  Simply email susan@susanstravelservices.com to get started. FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today when you visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more!

This week on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we're going to sort out some common misconceptions and FAQ's about wedding planners and day of coordinators.  Today's show is a de facto "Part II" from last week's conversation, where we ran through a general overview of hiring a planner and / or DOC. When I got married, I wasted a lot of time researching and interviewing planners before I realized that A.) I didn’t HAVE to hire anyone, and B.) John and I had all the tools we needed to plan OUR perfect wedding day. And side note, shocker - obviously, none of the wedding planners I interviewed ever mentioned to me, hey by the way, did you know that you could actually just do this on your own?   Thankfully I came around to that, but it took lots of wasted effort and stress to get there. Flash forward to today - I literally created the Wedding Planning Podcast so that any engaged couple could tune in and use the episodes and the tools we review in the weekly shows to plan their own wedding - no professional or pricey wedding planner required.  Spoiler alert before we even dive in - I definitely DO NOT think you have to spend thousands of dollars to hire a professional wedding planner!  Some alternatives?  Try checking out the sites we mentioned in today's show, including your local Craigslist postings, Thumbtack.com,  taskrabbit.com and fiverr.com I also know that there are countless wonderful wedding planning professionals out there, and for some couples it’s a really smart investment … and we’ll get into all of that that much more in today’s show. Click here for the full blog post from today's show. A special thank you for supporting our valued show sponsors who made this week’s free episode possible! Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding! FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your free wedding website today when you visit weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted.  Even better?  You'll also receive a $50 credit towards wedding stationary when you use a Minted Weddings website - no code needed!  

"The more care & intention you put into your wedding plans throughout your engagement, the richer your wedding celebration will be." Should we hire a WEDDING PLANNER / Day of Coodinator?  In today's workshop-style meeting, we’re going to review a list of critical guidelines to keep in mind as you tackle this super important part of your engagement journey.  A full show recap (AND a sneak peek into next week's episode!) can be found in this blog post >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/hiring-a-wedding-planner   A special thank you for supporting this week's show sponsors, who make these free wedding workshops possible! Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding! FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your free wedding website today when you visit weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted.  Even better?  You'll also receive a $50 credit towards wedding stationary when you use a Minted Weddings website - no code needed!

Your wedding planning questions, answered! Tune in for answers to all of your tough wedding situations, including: We're having a hard time choosing a date that works best for our closest loved ones, how should we decide? What's the etiquette when inviting just a couple of people from a larger social group? Are we obligated to provide vendors a meal / include them in the final head count for catering?  Recommended all-inclusive resort for a bachelorette party? Food truck wedding logistics - we love this idea but feel unclear about the best way to approach the set up to make sure our guests have a smooth experience. Want small & intimate, but every event gets blown up and magnified out of control.  I feel shy, anxious, and uncomfortable in large crowds of people and would so much prefer a quieter, small group setting.  How can I manage these feelings through the next few months, and especially through our wedding itself? To submit your wedding questions, please visit our website >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact A special thank you to this week's show sponsors: Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding! Take the stress out of meal planning this New Year when you visit factormeals.com/wedding50 and use code wedding50 to get 50% off!  

Need a little help decoding the complex, often frustrating process of creating your wedding GUEST LIST?  Finalizing who will actually receive a wedding invitation is a process that will likely take some time, revisions, cuts, and LOTS of patience. In this week's featured wedding planning meeting, we’re uncovering the KEY CHECKPOINTS to crafting a guest list that honors your wedding vision & budget, and reflects your top priorities. Once your general wedding budget and a venue are decided on, compiling a finalized guest list is the next key step in the early stages of planning out your wedding celebration. Family & friends are the centerpiece of our lives, and naturally you'll want to include your closest loved ones in this very special celebration. That's the easy part ... Planning your wedding involves a ton of strategic research & decision-making, yes - that’s the stuff you can look up on Google.  How to book a wedding photographer.  Cheap wedding invitations.  Top wedding venues in my area.    But there’s an entirely separate dimension of your engagement & wedding planning journey, that you’ll hear me call “the all new way to plan your wedding” - and that’s all stuff that you can’t google.  No internet search engine in the world knows your priorities, your personal values, or can spit out a truly personalized road map to the wedding that YOU WANT by typing a few words into a box.  You can’t google “how do I confidently sail through my engagement on-budget, stress-free, and loving the process?”   Computers can do a lot, but they can’t replace the priceless value of human connection and introspection … that’s what the Wedding Planning Podcast is here for, and I hope you love today’s workshop on crafting your wedding guest list!   A special thank you to this week's show sponsor, Susan's Travel Services: Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

This is not your average "wedding budget" conversation.  Today's workshop-style meeting is designed to *magically* make possible ALL the wedding things that are most important to you ... regardless of how much money you actually have in your budget.  Sounds amazing, right???  There are no percentage breakdowns on how much you "should" spend on what, no "average cost" conversations, and absolutely no judgement if you want to spend $5,000 on your wedding, and $10,000 on your honeymoon.   It’s time for a NEW WAY to create your dream wedding celebration, where YOU, your values, and your priorities are at the center of every single decision you make from now until your wedding day, & beyond. So let’s say goodbye to unrealistic, staged images on Pinterest of weddings in the forest that cost $32,000 - in decorations alone.  It’s time to tune out the $72 billion dollar wedding industry’s agenda, and focus on a more fulfilled engagement season that centers around YOU. THANK YOU for supporting this week's show sponsors! Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding! FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more.

It all starts here!  Welcome to your Engagement / Wedding Planning Checklist, including 10 key "to-do's" to launch your wedding planning journey into action. The days & weeks after saying "YES!" are a whirlwind of fun & excitement ... From sharing the news with your loved ones, flashing that ring every chance you get, and dreaming of cakes and dresses, you're definitely at the start of an unforgettable time in your lives. I’ve worked with thousands of engaged couples over the past 7 years of producing this podcast, and most of them are in autopilot mode already at this point in the planning process. And unfortunately, those couples miss a much larger opportunity.  An opportunity to wait patiently for their ideal wedding vision to unfold BEFORE going out and making big, irreversible decisions that end up really limiting what’s possible for them ... and I don’t want that for you.   SO MUCH MORE inside today's free audio meeting, and be sure to visit the full blog post / show recap here. THANK YOU to this week's show sponsors: FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with Minted Weddings & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Your bachelorette party is a really fun engagement milestone AND it'll be a breeze to plan with these easy planning guidelines + sample itineraries!  Today's show also includes lots of your questions on party etiquette, gift giving, who plans what, and even the "tale of two parties" ... two very different formats, each with their own pro's, and each guaranteed to result in an unforgettable night(s)!   A special THANK YOU for supporting the show by supporting our valued show partners: Get professional help planning your BACHELORETTE PARTY WEEKEND when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your final booking! Visit Generation Tux, where you can build your suit & tuxedo looks from home, get free color swatches, a free Home Try-On, AND manage your entire wedding party online. Gift your favorite bride 8 EASY + delicious meals when you visit factormeals.com/wedding50 and use code wedding50 to get 50% off!  

Tune in for a deep-dive into the wedding venue shopping process, including listener questions on everything from scheduling tours, budgeting, availability, all-inclusive options, and so much more! Your wedding venue is THE biggest decision you’ll make during your engagement - and that can feel like a lot of pressure.  We're going to simplify & demystify the process in today's show so that you can confidently start shopping for the perfect venue to host your wedding celebration. Grab your free "Venue Shopping Checklist" when you visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/wv Thank you for supporting our valued show sponsors, who make these free weekly episodes a reality! Factor is America’s #1 ready-to-eat meal delivery service, and I’m LOVING that I can skip the meal-planning, shopping, prepping, and clean up this holiday season.  You can try for yourself when you visit FACTOR MEALS and use code wedding50 to get 50% off.   Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!  

Welcome to the Wedding Photography & Videography Masterclass, where you'll find everything you need to know to capture stunning photos throughout your wedding celebration, AND even your pre-wedding events and parties! Your support of the Wedding Planning Podcast & all of our valued show sponsors means the world to me, and as a heartfelt thank you, I’m sharing totally free access to my Wedding Photography & Videography Masterclass.   Sign up now, FOR FREE, when you visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/gift We’re going to do an overview of this incredible resource today here on the podcast in audio format, but to gain access to over 12 bonus resources, including pdf guides, checklists, a video meeting and more, you’ll want to visit that link above.  Yes it requires your email address, no I will not spam email you a hundred times a week, and no it does NOT require a credit card or any payment whatsoever. Go ahead and mark "researching videographers" off your wedding to-do list, and check out Shutter & Sound Films at shutterandsound.com.  Let your wedding day be a cinematic masterpiece you'll revisit time and again! Now you've got all the tools to take pro-quality photos wherever you go ... including YOUR HONEYMOON!  Get professional help planning your dream trip when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding.

Happy Thanksgiving!  This week, get inspired by the creative wedding decor projects that other listeners are tackling, and stay tuned for your questions in a special Wedding Decor Q&A: Should we rent decor, or buy stuff + DIY? Tips for furniture rentals, like lounge couches & chairs? One-stop shopping rec's for decor items? With decorations, what's a good balance between too much & not enough? Is it ok NOT to decorate for the rehearsal dinner? How can we make our venue's low ceilings feel higher? Questions about decor, your wedding plans, or stories to share?  Be in touch! >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact A HUGE thank you to today's show sponsors: It's not just videography - it's cinematic artistry.  Get in touch with Shutter & Sound Films at shutterandsound.com, and let your wedding day be a cinematic masterpiece you'll revisit time and again. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Waaaayyyy too many engaged couples fail to plan for these ten sneaky little expenses that appear in the final months before the wedding! Today we’re going to cover TEN unexpected budget busters, so that you're not caught off-guard - stuck making impulsive last minute decisions out of stress or lack of information.   Be sure to stick around until the end of the show for a quick "BLACK FRIDAY / CYBER WEEK" segment on how to save big on all things wedding on Etsy!  To view my favorites, visit: weddingplanningpodcast.co/etsy Thank you for supporting this week's valued show sponsors: My husband John is already loving the look & feel of his skin after just a couple of weeks of using "The Regimen" from men's skincare line, Caldera Lab.  Use code "WEDDING" for 20% off! Visit Generation Tux, where you can build your suit & tuxedo looks from home, get free color swatches, a free Home Try-On, AND manage your entire wedding party online. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Submit your wedding questions & stories on our website!  www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact In today's episode, I have an inbox full of your wedding planning questions, including: Are wedding fairs worth the time? How to pick a DJ?  No idea where to start! My dress is very heavy, with a dramatic long train.  Should I consider a separate reception dress for dancing? >>> My fave sites for reception party dresses >>> Shein & Lulus What are your thoughts on a NYE wedding?  We love the symbolism of beginning our lives together at the start of a new year, but the logistics of actually planning for NYE seems hard.  Struggling with creating a core wedding vision and building out from there.  I feel like we have so many ideas, but none of them are cohesive or go together.  Our wedding is set for Fall 2025.  Is there an easy place to start that I am simply missing? What’s a quick list of things to prioritize when shopping for venues? What are “hidden fees” to look out for with any venue or vendors? How do I specify number of people invited to the wedding when addressing the invitation envelope? A special thank you to today's show sponsors: It's not just videography - it's cinematic artistry.  Get in touch with Shutter & Sound Films at shutterandsound.com, and let your wedding day be a cinematic masterpiece you'll revisit time and again. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding! Browse gorgeous paper products and complementary free wedding websites from our friends at Minted Weddings, AND save 25% off your Save the Dates with code SHINE23 (offer expires 11.11.23)  

The cost of food & drinks can be a huge source of frustration when planning your wedding.  I can’t tell you how many messages I get from couples who are utterly horrified by the per person fee for dinner & drinks - and rightfully so!  Today we’re going to explore setting up your own appetizer spread, and I think you’ll be blown away by the savings ... yes,  up to 85% off the cost of a traditional wedding caterer. Tune in for my detailed roadmap to appetizer / happy hour menu planning, shopping, and setting it all up. We'll review how much to buy, where to shop, and what you can expect the total price tag to be for TWO different sample menu options. We even cover the details that are often overlooked, so that your plan is airtight and nothing is missed. Even if you are using a more traditional caterer for the main meal, doing your own appetizer spread is a wonderful way to customize the offering, UP the quality, AND save a ton of money.  What's not to love? Not allowed to bring outside food into your venue?  This process for setting up a beautiful appetizer spread is also perfect for your bridal shower, welcome party, rehearsal dinner, or any other party you host in the future.  Be sure to bookmark it, and share this episode with a friend who's helping you plan! Enjoy the full blog post:  www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/cheese Discover endless cocktail hour inspiration!  https://www.pinterest.com/karasvinwedding/wedding-cocktail-hour/ A very special thank you to today's show sponsors: It's not just videography - it's cinematic artistry.  Get in touch with Shutter & Sound Films at shutterandsound.com, and let your wedding day be a cinematic masterpiece you'll revisit time and again. My husband John is already loving the look & feel of his skin after just a couple of weeks of using "The Regimen" from men's skincare line, Caldera Lab.  Use code "WEDDING" for 20% off! Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Engagement photos are an incredible opportunity to capture you & your fiancé in your happiest moments, and to share those images across your save the dates, your wedding website, holiday cards, and as decorations throughout your wedding celebration. The thing is, choosing the perfect outfits, getting hair & make up just right so that you look incredible but still natural, and posing effortlessly can be much easier said than done! Choosing what you’re going to wear and struggling through a last minute hair and makeup session an hour before you meet your photographer is not a great idea, to say the least.   Neither is waiting until you show up to find out that your fiancé has the worst stage fright, and looks like Chandler from "Friends" (season 7, episode 5, The One with The Engagement Picture) because they suddenly can’t smile.   Today on the WPP I have a handful of tricks and tips to make sure your engagement photo shoot is smooth, seamless, and yields those perfect shots that you’ve been dreaming of sharing with all of family, friends, and friends of friends.   Tune in for so much more, and head over to the blog post for today's show for a full written recap & links: www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/engagement-photos A huge thank you to this week's show sponsors: It's not just videography - it's cinematic artistry.  Get in touch with Shutter & Sound Films at shutterandsound.com, and let your wedding day be a cinematic masterpiece you'll revisit time and again. Now that you've got your engagement photos back, it’s time to share them with the world on gorgeous, high quality save the date and holiday cards from Minted Weddings.  Save 25% off Save The Dates and 15% off ALL wedding stationary when you visit weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted and use code WEDDING23.  Hurry, offer ends 10.30.23! Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we're exploring your top wedding questions, including: Ideal number of wedding party members / pro’s & con’s of larger vs. smaller group? What are your thoughts on doing a first look vs. waiting for the more traditional moment when I walk down the aisle? Inviting kids to the wedding - does it have to be “all or nothing?”  Babysitting options? OK to assign seats for the ceremony?  Divorced parents on my side and want to keep them separated. Do you have a good resource for a full wedding planning countdown / timeline?  Best resource for planning our honeymoon? Easy & convenient tuxedo / suit rentals? Including family & friends who want to help, but I don’t really know what to ask them to do.  What are some easy items to delegate? Etiquette involved w/ planning at the same time as my close friend?  Things are already overlapping and I’m feeling really frustrated Please consider our valued show partners when selecting services for your special day! My husband John is already loving the look & feel of his skin after just a couple of weeks of using "The Regimen" from men's skincare line, Caldera Lab.  Use code "WEDDING" for 20% off! Visit Generation Tux, where you can build your suit & tuxedo looks from home, get free color swatches, a free Home Try-On, AND manage your entire wedding party online. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!  

Today we break down everything you need to know about speeches & toasts at your wedding reception.  We'll cover: Who gives a speech / toast at the reception? Should we give direction about topic, tone, & length? When should the speeches take place?  In what order? I’m worried about inappropriate content - what should we do? How many speeches is too many? What if someone has paralyzing stage fright & is terrified to speak? And stick around until the end for a quick convo on first dances!    A special thank you to today's show sponsors: Get in touch with Shutter & Sound Films at shutterandsound.com, and let your wedding day be a cinematic masterpiece you'll revisit time and again.  It's not just videography - it's cinematic artistry Would you LOVE to take advantage of expert honeymoon planning services for your all-inclusive, cruise, or exotic honeymoon AND get $50 off when you book?  Simply email susan@susanstravelservices.com to get started!

Today you’re going to meet the lucky couple who was chosen to star in “Say Yes to the Venue", a multi-part video series that highlights their process of choosing the perfect wedding venue in Southwest Louisiana.  The premiere season features Lake Charles couple, Eloise and Grant, who visit 5 breathtaking venues, and they’re here this week to share their wedding venue shopping insights with you! Your wedding venue is a huge decision that’s going to set the scene for pretty much every other wedding element and decision that you’ll make over the course of your engagement.   Eloise & Grant are a lovely couple, and they have some pretty incredible insights to share with you - not only about their venue shopping process, but also their top advice on cutting the overwhelm factor as you plan, managing relationships with your family & friends, creative ways for finding the best vendors, and lots more wedding planning gems.   So, which venue did they choose??? CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL SERIES PS - Thank you for supporting our valued show partners: It's not just videography - it's cinematic artistry.  Get in touch with Shutter & Sound Films at shutterandsound.com, and let your wedding day be a cinematic masterpiece you'll revisit time and again. My husband John is already loving the look & feel of his skin after just a couple of weeks of using "The Regimen" from men's skincare line, Caldera Lab.  Visit www.calderalab.com and use code "WEDDING" for 20% off! Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!  

  On the fence about hiring a WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER?  You’re certainly not alone. In my experience, videography is probably the number one item that engaged couples are undecided about.  It’s no doubt a big investment, and a huge topic to unpack - so today I have an expert special guest to help us do just that. Today we're joined by Ken Foster, who is a lead shooter for Shutter and Sound.   Shutter and Sound is a very small group of filmmakers dedicated to turning your big day into a work of art.  They help you relive the tremble in your partner's voice, the joyous applause, or that unexpected dance move during the reception. It's all there, woven into a high-end film that's uniquely yours. Tune in to the full show for an Ultimate Guide to Wedding Videography, and learn why 98% of married couples recommend having a video of your wedding day: We're on the fence - how to decide if we should hire a videographer How I hired a videographer for my own wedding (at the 11th hour!) Benefits of videography vs. still photography Budgeting, packages, and pricing Research tips for finding the perfect videographer Wedding videography package options Biggest mistakes & complaints couples have about videography How to prepare for being in front of the camera The MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO on your wedding day Budgeting intentionally and honoring your personal priorities as you plan And for those wondering about locations: Shutter & Sound has 14 major U.S. cities covered, including spots like Boston, New York, L.A. and D.C. Plus, they're all about adventure, and are more than willing to travel for your big day. Simply visit shutterandsound.com, explore their beautiful website including detailed pricing information and sample videos, and be in touch via email with the “Contact Us” link.   Cheers to you & a beautiful wedding celebration!  

Today’s convo is a wedding planning strategy GEM!  We’re going to cover every single last little thing that should be included within your wedding venue contract.  If you’ve already booked a venue and signed a contract, I’d suggest pulling out your actual document & sticking around for today's convo to be sure that all the key items are addressed. Your wedding venue is literally the centerpiece of your dream wedding celebration.  It’s also likely the most expensive decision you’ll make throughout the course of your engagement, so we need to be extra cautious in getting the details cemented just right.   A special THANK YOU for supporting today's show sponsors: Visit Generation Tux, where you can build your suit & tuxedo looks from home, get free color swatches, a free Home Try-On, AND manage your entire wedding party online. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking! Thousands of couples have planned simple, meaningful & affordable multi-event wedding celebrations, and you can do it too with WEDDING WEEKEND BY DESIGN. Wedding Weekend by Design is a complete digital wedding planning package specifically for couples who want to MAXIMIZE their wedding celebration across MULTIPLE DAYS + MULTIPLE EVENTS. Whether you're stuck in the initial "I don't think we can pull that off with our time & budget" phase, OR you've already committed but find yourself in a tangled mess of half-made plans - finally, an incredibly straightforward, 16-STEP GUIDE to planning your multi-day wedding celebration from start to finish ... WITH ABSOLUTELY ZERO GUESSWORK AND WITH ANY BUDGET! Visit www.weddingweekend.co to learn more, and get started planning your dream WEDDING WEEKEND today!

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, you'll find an overview of universal questions and research tips that are designed to help you hire your dream team of WEDDING VENDORS.  You’ll come away from today’s show ready to find the best product / service, at the best price, and from the vendor who you most naturally vibe with.   Whether it’s an officiant, a wedding planner, or a photographer, I created these checkpoints to save you precious time & energy, and to empower you to uncover the HIGHEST QUALITY service for the BEST VALUE. You'll learn priceless wedding industry insights so that you have a deep understanding of the wedding vendor landscape and the things that go into package pricing, seasonal discounts, advertising expenses, and so much more. A special THANK YOU to today's show sponsors for making this wedding planning strategy meeting possible! FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Tap here to get started building your wedding website today & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Today a 2023 bride shares how she leaned into her genuine desire for good vibes, connection, and kindness when hiring her day of coordinator and photographer.  It’s a gem of a conversation that uncovers some surprising and unexpected ways to approach finding your dream team of wedding vendors! This week and next, we’re going to focus on the enormous job of hiring your dream team of wedding vendors.  Now of course this is an exciting milestone in the wedding planning process, but it can also be incredibly overwhelming and intimidating.   What roles are really necessary for us to hire?  Where should we start in doing research and gathering referrals?  What questions should we even be asking? I’ve got an entire strategy call lined up for you on next week’s episode, full of the exact questions to ask, research tips to guide your search, and a whole list of checkpoints to ensure you’re getting the highest quality service for the absolute best value.  Today as a warm up, I’m sharing a conversation with a bride named Dee, who you met 2 weeks ago on the show all about surprising ways to save money on your wedding decor.  Yes, she’s the gal who rented a uhaul to repurpose her existing, eclectic, and beloved decor from her own home, and share it with all of her wedding guests.  If you missed it, be sure to hop back to the show dated 8.23.23 and have a listen! Today Dee is back to share how she leaned into her genuine desire for good vibes, connection, and kindness when hiring her day of coordinator and photographer.  She’s got a heart of gold, and the takeaways from this short & sweet conversation are absolutely priceless - enjoy! Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Our goal this week on the Wedding Planning Podcast?  To save YOU $3,650 on your final wedding bill! We could literally talk for hours about all the pretty things you see on Pinterest & Instagram that do not HAVE to be a part of your wedding celebration. In the interest of time, I’ve chosen EIGHT wedding elements that I would suggest skipping - or scaling waaaaaaaaay back on.  I think you'll be shocked at how easy it is for us to save over $3,000 over the course of a 20 minute conversation! If your goal is a simple, beautiful, and affordable wedding - then the sky is the limit on the millions of wedding details you can leave out.    In my digital wedding planning package, couples are encouraged to make a detailed list of their priorities way early on in the engagement.  They can then use that rock-solid road map over & over again, to check in throughout their engagement and be sure that priorities & values are being honored with every single decision. Want to come behind the scenes for more in-depth guidance on setting an unshakable planning foundation that will bring you all the way through to your wedding day & beyond?  Now you can try my revolutionary digital wedding planning package FREE for 3 days!   NO CONTRACTS, A very small monthly subscription price that you’re 100% free to CANCEL ANYTIME, And a FREE 3-DAY TRIAL so you can even take a look around before committing! In essence?  You have absolutely NOTHING to lose, and everything to gain.  Get started today at www.wedpodcast.com. I'll see you there! A special thank you to Susan's Travel Services for sponsoring today's episode.  Take advantage of expert honeymoon planning services for your all-inclusive, cruise, or exotic honeymoon AND get $50 off when you book!  Simply email susan@susanstravelservices.com to get started. Other partner links mentioned in today's show: Wedding shoes on Amazon? Why not! Check out these beauties & more for a fraction of the price at a "wedding" retailer. Support a small business AND shop high quality, low priced wedding accessories on Etsy. An entire show dedicated to planning, shopping for & setting up your own APPETIZER SPREAD can be found in your podcast feed dated June 1, 2022. Last word! A CLASSIC way to save? Purchase once-used decor & other wedding items from another couple on a resale site like Craigslist, Ebay, or Facebook Marketplace. 🙌🏼

This week is Part Two of a special 2-part series, where we’re highlighting some clever ways to not only save money, but also to increase the QUALITY + VALUE on everything from decor, rental items, invitations, food & drinks, and even your venue.   So many couples equate a higher price tag with a higher-quality end product or service, and that’s simply not always true.  Worse, that mentality can add up to spending tens of thousands of dollars more than necessary to host a memorable and meaningful wedding celebration.  The million dollar question is how can we develop an instinct for when it makes sense to invest more money for a higher quality experience, and when taking a less expensive route will be just fine - and we'll explore the answer in these two episodes! Lucky for all of us, there are opportunities to simultaneously maximize quality AND value literally everywhere, and I’ve chosen these wedding planning elements to share with you as examples of how to think differently about the amount of money that’s really necessary to spend to acheive your end goal, which of course is a beautiful, unforgettable wedding celebration. Cheers, Kara Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

This week starts a special 2-part series, where we’re going to highlight some clever ways to save money on everything from decor, rental items, invitations, food & drinks, and even your venue.   So many couples equate a higher price tag with a higher-quality end product or service, and that’s simply not always true.  Worse, that mentality can add up to spending tens of thousands of dollars more than necessary to host a memorable and meaningful wedding celebration.  The $10,000 dollar question is how can we develop an instinct for when it makes sense to invest more money for a higher quality experience, and when taking a less expensive route will be just fine - and that’s what we’re going to highlight in these two episodes. Two of my ultimate priorities as a wedding professional are increasing QUALITY AND VALUE.  Lucky for all of us, there are opportunities to simultaneously maximize quality AND value literally everywhere, and I’ve chosen these wedding planning elements to share with you as examples of how to think differently about the amount of money that’s really necessary to spend to acheive your end goal, which of course is a beautiful, unforgettable wedding celebration. For today, we’re focusing on one specific area where you can cut expenses and still maintain a beautiful end result, and it all starts with REUSING + REPURPOSING what you already have / own. Tune in for so much more, and I'll be back next week with Part Two! Cheers, Kara Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!  

Today we’re going to run through a 10-item wedding to-do list for when you reach the final 4-6 week countdown before your wedding day.  While some of the items in today’s show are pretty standard, others are much less obvious - and sadly are not commonly discussed.  Overlooking just one of these important action-items can tip the scales towards a stressful, frantic celebration - and I don't want that for you! For a complete recap of today's show, visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/countdown A special thank you to this week's show sponsors: Visit Generation Tux, where you can build your suit & tuxedo looks from home, get free color swatches, a free Home Try-On, AND manage your entire wedding party online. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding! FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more.

“I’m struggling with imaging how all of my wedding reception decorations will look together - flowers, signs, decorations, tables, etc.  Any tips for making sure all my little decisions fit together in the end?” If you’re like most of us, you're not a full service wedding or event designer (and hiring one isn't in the budget!). So how can we trust that the dozens of small wedding decor decisions we make along the way will ultimately work together as a whole?   Today we’re going to explore 4 ways that you can use professional design skills to create the cohesive, show-stopper look that you’re going for on your wedding day.  These design tips are suitable for all budgets, and no - you don’t need an advanced art or design degree to pull them off!  Tune in for easy tips on choosing your table linens, centerpiece flowers, favors, cocktail napkins, confetti, wedding party outfits, table settings, and so much more. Links mentioned in today's show: We're also going to review 3 affordable reception decor ideas pulled straight from Pinterest to get your inspiration flowing. Beautiful bolts of tulle Affordable lanterns in various sizes & colors from Ikea Claim your FREE Engagement Starter Kit here! A special thank you to today's show sponsors! FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Wedding expenses adding up, and today we’re going to explore FIVE wedding "side hustles".  Tune in and learn how to earn some extra cash to cover those mounting wedding costs ... and keep your credit cards in your wallet! A couple weeks back on Instagram stories, I asked if you would be willing to take on a side hustle to earn more money to invest in your wedding, and an overwhelming 83% of you said YES.  As someone who has done the "side hustle" multiple times in my entrepreneurial journey, this topic is very near & dear to my heart.  Today's show is inspired by my own experiences, and also by my friend Nick Loper, creator of the Side Hustle Nation blog and podcast. Nick has 5 side hustle “business models” to share, and I’m going to elaborate on each one, and offer a few more ideas that I love.  For a full blog post & recap of today's show, AND a special video message from Nick, visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/hustle. Today's show is brought to you by these valued partners ... Browse gorgeous paper products and complementary free wedding websites from our friends at Minted Weddings.  Enjoy 25% off save the dates, 20% off wedding stationery. Code: NCOWED22 Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding! Check out ethical, stunning, and one-of-a-kind wedding rings and bands at brilliantearth.com

Have you ever been to a small wedding reception with magical ambiance and thought, "wow, this is great but it would be so much more meaningful if there were 300 additional people here?"  I’m guessing the answer is NO.  So why do feel so much pressure to host a huge wedding, invite everyone we know, spend all the money on all the things, and stress ourselves out every step along the way? Small, intimate weddings have been on the Wedding Planning Podcast "trend report" for 4 years in a row, and for good reason!  I’ve always been a huge fan of a simple, scaled back celebration ... and in today’s climate, that’s never been more appropriate. Tune in to today's brand new episode for a complete "micro wedding" blueprint, designed to make planning a breeze.  We'll cover everything you need to know to make your small celebration extra special.  From your tiny guest list, to invitations, splurge vs. save items, planning a larger reception to follow, and your TOP micro wedding questions - we'll cover it all in this encouraging & lighthearted overview.  I’ve been sharing my signature wedding planning advice on the podcast for 8 years now, and for the first time EVER, I’ve opened up my door to 1-on-1 Wedding Strategy Calls. Whether you’re looking for just one session to get your wedding plans started, or a series of ongoing support calls throughout your engagement, I’m here for you. Get the details & book your first call today when you visit  wedpodcast.com . Thank you for supporting today's show sponsors: Browse gorgeous paper products and complementary free wedding websites from our friends at Minted Weddings.  Enjoy 25% off save the dates, 20% off wedding stationery. Code: NCOWED22 Get professional help planning your dream DESTINATION MICRO WEDDING when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $200 off your destination wedding booking, OR $50 off your honeymoon.

There are lots of easy & affordable alternatives to hiring a professional florist to create towering, elaborate centerpieces for your wedding reception tables. In today's show, we’re going to discuss a creative variety of affordable wedding table decoration ideas.  We're also going to review some actionable tips for doing your own wedding day flower bouquets & boutonnieres. It’ll take a little extra work on your part, and you may need to simplify things a bit ... but if you’re looking for a spot to save a ton of money, creating table centerpieces & bouquets on your own is a great place to start! Enjoy my top tips for incorporating flowers into your table decor, and we also cover beautiful centerpiece ideas that incorporate creative materials OTHER than flowers.  We wrap up with some specific examples of complete table set up’s that you can do for less than $10 per table. Full blog post for today's show: www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/centerpiece A very special thank you to today's show sponsors: Check out ethical, stunning, and one-of-a-kind wedding rings and bands at brilliantearth.com Visit Generation Tux, where you can build your suit & tuxedo looks from home, get free color swatches, a free Home Try-On, AND manage your entire wedding party online. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

This week on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we’re demystifying the world of wedding insurance, permits and licensing. It seems like an intimidating and complicated topic, so we're bringing it all down to very simple terms and easy tasks that you can check off your list - typically with a few simple phone calls or clicks! Visit the FULL BLOG POST with bonus links here >>> https://weddingplanningpodcast.co/wedding-insurance/ You’ve likely had nightmares about alllllll the things that can go wrong on your wedding day. While I can’t buffer you against ALL mishaps like a global pandemic that spans years, a lipstick spot on your dress, swollen & hurting feet, or running out of vodka at the bar - the GOOD news is that you CAN protect yourself and your wedding from big disasters with a simple little thing called wedding insurance. Wedding insurance is reasonably priced, and for just a couple hundred dollars can provide PRICELESS peace of mind. Side note - Researching your wedding insurance options would be a PERFECT little task to delegate to someone who's been asking you "is there anything for the wedding I can help with?" ;) Stick around for the second half of the show and we'll discuss your awkward, uncomfortable, and puzzling wedding questions. Please feel free to share this valuable episode with your engaged friends, or anyone who's helping you plan.  I appreciate your support of the Wedding Planning Podcast beyond words! Cheers, Kara   I’ve been sharing my signature wedding planning advice on the podcast for 8 years now, and for the first time EVER, I’ve opened up my door to 1-on-1 Wedding Strategy Calls! Whether you’re looking for just one session to get your wedding plans started, or a series of ongoing support calls throughout your engagement, I’m here for you. Get the details & book your first call today when you visit  wedpodcast.com . A special thank you to today's show sponsors: Browse gorgeous paper products and complementary free wedding websites from our friends at Minted Weddings.  Enjoy 25% off save the dates, 20% off wedding stationery. Code: NCOWED22 Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!  

Get answers to all of your wedding cake + dessert questions in today’s show!  From everything to researching bakeries, booking cake tastings, hidden fees to be aware of, unique dessert alternatives, and budget-friendly cost saving tips, we're covering it all in today's sugar-coated show. Links mentioned in our convo: The complete blog post for today's show is linked here >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/cake TLC rounded up a group of experts to share the most popular wedding cake flavor combos for 2023, and here’s a complete "sampling" of their list. CAKE TOPPERS on Etsy that are customizable, simple, and super affordable, Browse thousands of beautiful SUGAR FLOWER DECORATIONS from independent business owners on Etsy 30 Delicious Alternatives to Traditional Wedding Cake A special thank you to today's show sponsors: Affiliate shopping links from Amazon & Etsy support the show at no additional cost to you - thank you for your clicks! Check out ethical, stunning, and one-of-a-kind wedding rings and bands at brilliantearth.com Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding.      

Today we're joined by a very special guest who wants to help you plan the honeymoon of your dreams!    You may know a 60-second rundown of Susan from Susan's Travel Services from our weekly meetings.  I believe in the value of her expertise so much that I am honored to share her services with you on literally every single show. Susan offers travel and honeymoon planning services to engaged couples like you, and today she’s going to share: The process for finding your ideal honeymoon destination, Exactly when you should start planning this trip of a lifetime,  The scoop on airfare and the best times to buy, Behind-the-scenes, expert considerations that couples overlook when planning their honeymoon, Hot destinations for 2023 and beyond, And she even has some honeymoon planning mistakes to highlight for you, so that you can sidestep the common issues she sees come up for couples time & time again. Travel and new experiences are incredibly special to me, and I hope you and your soon-to-be husband or wife enjoy the trip of a lifetime to celebrate your honeymoon!   To schedule a completely free honeymoon consultation with Susan, simply click here or visit www.susanstravelservices.com. Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your final booking. Cheers to you & the trip of a lifetime!  

A top-notch Wedding Planner or Day-Of-Coordinator is essential for any smooth and seamless wedding celebration.  Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we’re reviewing 10 KEY POINTS to discuss with your planner so that you’re both on the same page and ready to tackle any planning, logistic, or execution challenges that may arise. A sampling of these key discussion points: Who are your assistants or other team members, what is their role in the planning phase, and also at the actual wedding celebration?  Having a crystal clear set of expectations for who will be answering your questions and exactly who will be your point-person is critical! Can you share firsthand reviews & testimonials from past couples you’ve worked with? Does your past experience / areas of expertise fit naturally within our overall wedding vision, venue, and our top priorities? What can we expect in terms of ongoing communication, both frequency and style?  Tune in for lots more! For a complete recap of today's show, visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co Thank you to this week's show partners: Brilliant Earth’s mission is to cultivate a more transparent, sustainable, compassionate, & inclusive jewelry industry.  Check out all of their beautiful engagement + wedding bands at brilliantearth.com Visit Generation Tux, where you can build your suit & tuxedo looks from home, get free color swatches, a free Home Try-On, AND manage your entire wedding party online. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!  

Creating your wedding reception seating chart can QUICKLY become one of wedding planning’s biggest pains.  Between crazy family members, divorces, step-parents, hook-up’s gone wrong, introverts, extroverts and lots of alcohol - your seating chart can quickly begin to feel like a jigsaw puzzle from hell. This week on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we’re going to review some easy tips & tactics for designing your reception seating chart.  Simple stuff that will ease the pain, and take this task from dreaded to done! Resources & links from today’s show: Find helpful online seating chart tool recommendations here, Search “wedding seating chart” on Etsy for lots of custom options, “Do It Yourself” seating chart signs here, Browse KVW custom place card holders here, And enjoy tons of creative seating chart ideas on this Pinterest board. A special THANK YOU to this week's show sponsors: Thousands of couples have planned simple, meaningful and affordable multi-day / multi-event wedding celebrations and you can do it too with Wedding Weekend By Design!  Full details at weddingweekend.co Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding! Brilliant Earth’s mission is to cultivate a more transparent, sustainable, compassionate, & inclusive jewelry industry.  Check out all of their beautiful pieces at brilliantearth.com. 

There’s a really common misunderstanding in "wedding planning world" that doing things yourself is always a good way to save money.  I get it - in some situations, you might have more time than money, and a cheap & easy DIY project makes perfect sense.  I bet if you think back, you can remember a time when "doing it yourself" was NOT the answer.  We have to be careful in drawing the line between a few manageable, simple wedding projects that make perfect sense, and biting off more than you can chew.  Otherwise, you risk finding yourself in a spot of pure overwhelm and chaos months into wedding planning, and I don't wish that upon anyone! On today’s show, we’re going to explore 8 important considerations and red flags to carefully consider when hosting your wedding at a residential property like a backyard or a rental home.  Our conversation today is a perfect lesson in creating boundaries as you plan between what you can realistically handle yourself, what should be left to a paid professional, and how to rearrange your priorities if you're stuck feeling like the cheapest possible DIY route is your only option.  (spoiler alert - it's not!!!) A special thank you to today's show sponsors: There are just 6 easy steps to planning an unforgettable wedding weekend experience.  Access the proven formula when you visit weddingweekend.co. Check out beautiful wedding bands from our friends at brilliantearth.com. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

This brand new BONUS show features the top wedding weekend planning mistakes I see couples make as they formulate the details of a multi-day, multi-event wedding celebration. In this episode, we highlight 6 common planning mistakes, including: Feeling intimidated by the COST of hosting multiple events, Trying to accommodate ALL of your guests perfectly (spoiler alert - it's not possible, so don't even try!) Failing to consider the endless creative possibilities for food & drinks before committing to an overpriced & underwhelming caterer, Not communicating clearly with your guests before, during, and after your wedding weekend experience, Getting OVERWHELMED and losing sight of your most important priorities, Relying on a DOC to organize and manage things that are not actually their responsibility Today's highlighted planning mistakes come from couples who I've worked with inside Wedding Weekend By Design, my 6-STEP PLANNING FRAMEWORK that's incredibly easy to follow, and works with any budget, any timeline, and any hosting format.  Inside WWBD, I'll show you exactly how to: Design your master schedule, Budget for various events & pre-parties, Find the best venue to fit your vision, Uncover creative options & workarounds for food & drinks,  Get and stay organized, and make an airtight communication plan, And you'll even have access to sample wedding weekend schedules & menus so that you can get inspired by what other couples have done! I can’t wait to see you inside  Wedding Weekend By Design! Cheers, Kara

Over the course of 11 YEARS in the wedding industry, I've seen literally thousands of weddings unfold ... and all of them together have given me the priceless gift of HINDSIGHT. In wedding planning, hindsight is literally a super power - so I've packaged mine up to share with you in today's brand new show featuring your Wedding Weekend planning questions!   We're going to unpack, decode, and get to the bottom of your questions, including: How should we go about offering onsite cabins / rooms to guests in an order that makes sense? We’re torn between 2 very different "wedding weekend" visions - how do we decide? What are some tips for trying to pace events so we don’t feel overwhelmed?  My fiance and I have totally different visions for how to stock our own bar.  He wants to basically recreate a top-shelf situation with all the liquors and mixers, and I see more of a simplistic set up of beer, wine, maybe a signature cocktail.  Your thoughts? How can I get over feeling like we need to please everyone? Today's highlighted questions come from couples who have followed Wedding Weekend By Design, my 6-STEP PLANNING FRAMEWORK that's incredibly easy to follow, and works with any budget, any timeline, and any hosting format.  Inside WWBD, I'll show you exactly how to: Design your master schedule, Budget for various events & pre-parties, Find the best venue to fit your vision, Uncover creative options & workarounds for food & drinks,  Get and stay organized, and make an airtight communication plan, And you'll even have access to sample wedding weekend schedules & menus so that you can get inspired by what other couples have done! I can’t wait to see you inside Wedding Weekend By Design! Cheers, Kara

I’m willing to bet that you’ve heard from all your newlywed friends & family that their wedding day "came and went in the blink of an eye."  The beautiful news is that your wedding celebration doesn’t have to RUSH BY IN A TOTAL BLUR! Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, I’m bringing on a very special guest to share the details of exactly how she designed a wedding celebration that left her saying this: "I always get to look back and say that it was the most incredible 4 days of my life." To go along with our conversation today, I‘m incredibly excited to introduce Wedding Weekend by Design, a digital planning package that walks you through a simple, 6-step framework to designing your perfect wedding weekend celebration ... ... so that when we flash forward a few months, you’re echoing what Kate just said - and not left feeling like you missed out, and it was all over in the blink of an eye. To sign up for the Wedding Weekend By Design digital planning package, visit weddingweekend.co The intuitive planning framework inside WWBD is designed to proactively steer you clear of the mistakes I see couples make over & over again, so that you can design your entire wedding weekend with CONFIDENCE + EASE. You’ll enjoy a 6-STEP PLANNING FRAMEWORK that's incredibly easy to follow, and works with any budget, any timeline, and any hosting format.  I'll show you exactly how to: Design your master schedule, Budget for various events & pre-parties, Find the best venue to fit your vision, Uncover creative options & workarounds for food & drinks,  Get and stay organized, and make an airtight communication plan, And you'll even have access to sample wedding weekend schedules & menus so that you can get inspired by what other couples have done! I can’t wait to see you inside Wedding Weekend By Design! xo, Kara

This week on the Wedding Planning Podcast, cozy up and enjoy a sampling of unique wedding scenarios, questions, and curiosities, including: Wedding "decision fatigue" and the priceless value of hindsight, "Conversations with my fiance have been frustrating recently.  We can’t seem to agree on anything regarding our budget, guests, or priorities.  What are some ways we can get back on the same page and embrace compromise?" Hiring a day of coordinator - what should we be looking for?  (Visit the episode dated 5/4/22, "Hiring Your Wedding Vendors" for lots more on this topic) DIY flower recommendations - this is an item that’s not terribly high on our priority list, what are some of your top tips for doing our own flowers? Help evaluating pros and cons of venues with more or less DIY Is a videographer really worth it?  Any alternate ways to capture video? WEDDING QUESTIONS? Planning a wedding celebration from start to finish comes with countless questions about logistics, feasibility, budgeting, etiquette concerns, just to name a few (I could go on, and on, and on ....) Wouldn't it be nice to talk through your ideas & concerns with a down-to-earth, totally neutral 3rd party who has literally "seen it all" when it comes to weddings? Now you can take advantage of personalized, 1-on-1 calls!  Wedding Strategy Calls are available to book now when you visit wedpodcast.com.  Take advantage of flexible options including monthly subscription pricing, or simply book one call to clarify a few specific questions.   Talk soon! Visit Generation Tux, where you can build your suit & tuxedo looks from home, get free color swatches, a free Home Try-On, AND manage your entire wedding party online. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we’re doing a thorough review of wedding dress alterations, styling & accessories, & post-wedding preservation ideas, and so much more. Our conversation covers the dress alterations process in detail, including pricing, money-saving tips, a timeline for when to get started, and alternative options for having your dress altered. We also cover: What's a bustle, do I need one, and how much does it cost? (article on bustling I mentioned in today's show can be found here) Styling and shape wear options like bras, corsets, and compression garments, The importance of COMFORTABLE SHOES, Getting your dress home & last minute wrinkle patrol (the handheld steamer I mentioned can be found here) And some creative ways to preserve and / or repurpose your gown after the wedding. I hope you love it, and congratulations on that beautiful dress! Cheers, Kara PS - I’ve been sharing my signature wedding planning advice on the podcast for 8 years now, and for the first time EVER, I’ve opened up my door to 1-on-1 Wedding Strategy Calls! Whether you’re looking for just one session to get your wedding plans started, or a series of ongoing support calls throughout your engagement, I’m here for you. Get the details & book your first call today when you visit  wedpodcast.com . Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Are you drowning in wedding "etiquette" & "rules"?  Everyone has an opinion on invitation wording, cash bars, inviting kids, and what traditions absolutely SHOULD be included in the wedding day. Today, let’s take a step back, and reframe things ... starting with your WEDDING MINDSET. Where wedding planning can get overwhelming is when our expectations of what a wedding “should” look like conflict with our budget, our styles, and our personalities.  And of course, an added layer of difficulty arises when you and your partner come from different backgrounds, and one of you thinks paying $10,000 for a photographer is completely reasonable, and the other wants to spend $10,000 total on the entire wedding. But no matter where you’re from, I’m a firm believer in your wedding day being an expression and celebration of you & your partner.  At the end of the day, you’re making a really special commitment to one another, and looking to celebrate the occasion with your loved ones.  That’s it! With that said, let’s look at these “wedding etiquette rules” with a fresh set of eyes.  We're going to make a pledge to let go of what “everyone else is doing,” and open up the possibilities way beyond that. Please know that you always have the support from me to ditch what everyone else is doing, and craft your day, your way! PS - I’ve been sharing my signature wedding planning advice on the podcast for 8 years now, and for the first time EVER, I’ve opened up my door to 1-on-1 Wedding Strategy Calls! Whether you’re looking for just one session to get your wedding plans started, or a series of ongoing support calls throughout your engagement, I’m here for you. Get the details & book your first call today when you visit  wedpodcast.com . Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!  

There’s A LOT of conflicting information + confusion out there about tipping your wedding vendors, and today we're going to get to the bottom of it! Tune in for a walk through exactly how to decide who should get a tip, how much, and even some extra special additional ways of saying thank you. Today’s show is Wedding Planning Podcast classic, and we’re going to take a close look at some very common misunderstandings that are flying around out there surrounding tipping your wedding vendors. Think you have to automatically package up envelopes with 20% tips for every single wedding vendor you hire?  Think again.  Today I’m gonna save you hours on google, and likely hundreds - if not thousands - of dollars over that crazed couple who just takes the advice out there on tipping at face value and doesn’t bother taking the time to explore the nuances and undercurrents that are actually at play.   So come along with me, and let’s uncover the TRUTH about tipping your wedding vendors! A special thank you to today's show sponsors: FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Your wedding gift registry is the perfect opportunity to upgrade your home & your lifestyle with practical gifts that you need and will use in the years to come.  Tune in for an essential guide to creating a killer wedding gift registry including: Deciding what items to include and ... Items NOT to include on your registry, Various lifestyle "categories" to consider as you build your registry, Tips for creating cash gift funds, Your top wedding registry "wish list" items, And so much more! For a complete written recap of today's show, visit weddingplanningpodcast.co/registry A special THANK YOU to today's show sponsors: Visit Generation Tux, where you can build your suit & tuxedo looks from home, get free color swatches, a free Home Try-On, AND manage your entire wedding party online. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking! Shop Etsy for one-of-a-kind wedding day details, personalized just for you >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/etsy If you have the beginnings of a really creative wedding vision that you’d like to talk through to discuss overall feasibility, options, or pricing comparison, I have 1-on-1 wedding strategy calls available!  You can book your call today when you visit wedpodcast.com.

Lots of engaged couples are working with a small wedding budget and feeling completely overwhelmed, so they turn to free wedding checklists and timelines to stay organized … thinking all these freebie resources are the key to pulling off an incredible wedding for not a lot of money.   But, what most couples never realize is that mindlessly following all those free guides and checklists will lead to you ultimately spending money on a bunch of crap that’s not even that important to you.  Let me back up.   Wedding programs are on your checklist.  I mean, doesn’t every wedding have to have a ceremony program?  And your mom chimes in about menus, and place cards, and invitations with 3 enclosures, and RSVP cards and save the dates … And you see 3 different deals on Instagram, Facebook, and in an email from that wedding website for free samples, 50% off your order, and beautiful all-in-one custom invitation suites that match every wedding theme perfectly!   Aaaaaaaannnnnd all of the sudden you realize that you’ve spent $1000 on paper products that you could really care less about - all because they were on the checklist, they were on sale, and let’s be real, you didn’t want to disappoint your mom.   Is following that free wedding checklist really a good idea? Wouldn’t it have been much easier to press pause and acknowledge at the start that you don’t care about ceremony programs, and therefore you’re just going to skip them altogether?  Same with the other $900 worth of paper products? And that example was something pretty small, like wedding programs - what happens when you book a $6,000 videographer because that’s what everyone does right, you have to have a videographer - {you’re totally gonna regret it if you don’t have the most important day of your life on film - there’s a little voice in the back of your head that knows you could come up with a workaround, that you don’t really need or care if you have a cinematic movie theatre quality film of your wedding …. But you’re gonna go with the flow, because you only get married once in theory and this is just what everyone does.} And that credit card statement just keeps on growing, full of stuff that doesn’t really matter to you, but the checklist said so, so you did it.  Flowers.  A fancy cake.  Favors.  Expensive place settings and charger plates, and chair slip covers and table linens.  Is this really where you want to be?  Feeling pressured & judged by a free wedding checklist?   If you’re like me, and you want to keep things simple and affordable while at the same time pulling off an unforgettable wedding that’s FULL OF MEANING, then you know that driving yourself crazy trying to fulfill every single thing on that freebie wedding checklist isn’t the answer.   Ready for the new way?  Tune in to today's full episode to learn exactly how to create your own PERSONALIZED wedding checklist that highlights ONLY your most important priorities ... and gain the freedom that comes when you say NO to everything else. Our conversation today is just the beginning of creating a well-defined wedding vision that will be your north star compass throughout the rest of your engagement.  Formulating your wedding vision is a priceless investment of your time, and it sounds simple enough - but it’s not always easy to separate ourselves from feelings of judgment, doubt, and unrealistic expectations.  If you’d like some one-time help, OR ongoing guidance for bringing your wedding vision to life, visit wedpodcast.com for details on how we can work together in a personalized, 1-on-1 setting. SUSAN'S TRAVEL SERVICES | Would you LOVE to take advantage of expert honeymoon planning services for your all-inclusive, cruise, or exotic honeymoon AND get $50 off when you book? Simply email susan@susanstravelservices.com to get started!  

Being the "Overwhelmed Engaged Couple" is not a ton of fun. They say things like, "wow, our whole wedding day FLEW BY and we barely had a chance to enjoy it." This couple feels panic every time a new vendor quote comes in. Overwhelmed every time they open their email or even think about all the items on their checklist. Dread over finding out how much the next thing is going to cost. Fear over being judged for what they choose - and don't choose - to include in their wedding celebration. Ahem, I have a question 🙋🏼‍♀️ ... how is feeling overwhelmed & anxious about all that outside noise going to help YOU plan an unforgettable wedding experience that celebrates your marriage and your love in a once-in-a-lifetime event with all the people closest to you? Your engagement season is too special to sit back & let it slip by in a cloud of overwhelm and frustration. Right now, you have a choice. You can continue down the rabbit hole of OVERWHELM - of “perfect weddings” on social media, a million wedding websites telling you to do a million different things, noisy chatrooms, crappy blogs, free checklists and timelines on Pinterest and DIY’ers on You Tube telling you how to plan your entire wedding for $100.00. Honestly, that’s what most brides and grooms choose, and they stay stuck in a frenzy of anxiety & overwhelm all the way through the wedding day itself. They miss a beautiful opportunity to connect with one another, to live their engagement season in lightness and joy, and love. But YOU have a choice. You can CHOOSE be the engaged couple who presses pause on all that noise, and gets your mindset and your values in alignment with the vision YOU have of your perfect wedding celebration .... so that you can create an engagement season AND a wedding celebration full of lightness, love and joy. That sounds much better, right? If that’s you, then tune in to today's show where I’m going to show you exactly how to EMBRACE who you are, PRIORITIZE what you value, and bring it all together in a life-changing wedding celebration for you & your loved ones. It’s time to say “YES” to a more joyful engagement season, and I’m incredibly grateful to be a part of it 🙏. Cheers to you, Kara Our conversation today is just the beginning of creating a well-defined wedding vision that will be your north star compass throughout the rest of your engagement.  Formulating your wedding vision is a priceless investment of your time, and it sounds simple enough - but it’s not always easy to separate ourselves from feelings of judgment, doubt, and unrealistic expectations.  If you’d like some one-time help, OR ongoing guidance for bringing your wedding vision to life, visit wedpodcast.com for details on how we can work together in a personalized, 1-on-1 setting. 

Creating a simple, info-packed WEDDING WEBSITE is the easiest, most hassle free way to easily share information with your wedding guests.  Join me today for a detailed wedding planning workshop on exactly how to create an amazing wedding website - zero technical skills required!  To get started, choose your wedding website design from an incredible community of independent artists & designers when you visit Minted Weddings. FREE Minted wedding websites include all the tools you need to get started, and you’ll even receive a $50 credit towards your wedding stationery when you visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/website. In today's show, we're covering what to include on your website, what not to include, and lots of priceless details on how to leverage this incredible tool to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER over the coming months.   I also have a really fun & interactive extension of your website that will make connecting with your guests a breeze between now & wedding day. Even if you’ve already got a wedding website up & running, I hope you’ll stick around for today’s conversation - I have lots of important website elements to share that many couples miss, and I want you to be able to leverage your wedding website to your FULL ADVANTAGE over the next few months ... making your life easier, and of course, your guests’ lives easier as well! A quick outline of what we're going to cover in today's meeting: Home Page Events Travel & Accommodations FAQ Page Your Story Wedding Party RSVP Details Links to your registry & don't miss my BONUS TIP for keeping in close contact with your wedding guests throughout the coming months via a private Facebook Group!  Here's a link that explaings exactly how to set one up. PS - A special thank you to today's show sponsor, Susan's Travel Services!  Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Affordable & beautiful Save the Date announcements and wedding invitations - how hard can that be?? Well, if you’ve spent 3 hours on a Saturday getting lost down the rabbit hole of 9 different wedding invitation websites, then you know that finding a practical solution that fits your style and your budget is much easier said than done.   Today I’m sharing a complete guide to wedding stationery, from Save the Dates to invitations.  We'll even review all of those mysterious extras like fancy paper type, additional enclosures, wax seals, envelope liners, and more.  And if you’re on a budget and looking to keep your invites as minimal and affordable as possible, I’ve got some exclusive listener savings to share totaling over $300!  See below for links & resources. LINKS + SPECIAL OFFERS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S SHOW: 25% off Save the Date announcements >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted 830+ Wedding Invitations w/ matching website, Save the Dates, QR code & extras >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/invite $50 stationery credit to use towards your save the dates and / or invitations when you create a wedding website >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/website BONUSES! Get a FREE Wedding Planning Journal from our friends at Minted when you click here Redeem your FREE Wedding Invitation Sample Kit here And of course, an extra special thank you to Susan's Travel Services: Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Great news - you don’t need to be a professional designer or natural-born artist to select a beautiful & cohesive color palette for your wedding celebration.  Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we’re running through 5 easy steps for choosing the colors to incorporate into your rehearsal, ceremony & reception. A lightening speed recap: 1. Start w/ your venue to guide your color selection, 2. Get color inspiration for your Save the Dates & wedding website - the first design elements your guests will actually see! I've linked 78 Save the Date options with beautiful sample color palettes here.​ 3. Tips for using Pinterest to your advantage, 4. Consider your potential colors actually being worn by your wedding party, 5. And of course, KEEP IT SIMPLE! Enjoy the show! PS - I’ve been sharing my signature wedding planning advice on the podcast for 8 years now, and for the first time EVER, I’ve opened up my door to 1-on-1 Wedding Strategy Calls!   Whether you’re looking for just one session to get your wedding plans started, or a series of ongoing support calls throughout your engagement, I’m here for you.  Get the details & book your first call today when you visit wedpodcast.com.   Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding! Visit Generation Tux, where you can build your suit & tuxedo looks from home, get free color swatches, a free Home Try-On, AND manage your entire wedding party online.  

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we're joined by Susan from Susan's Travel Services to talk all things DESTINATION WEDDING! Tune in for the full scoop on this HOT wedding hosting trend, including: The surprise average cost of a destination wedding - and the huge TIME, STRESS & MONEY-saving opportunities that this hosting format presents! Advice for choosing a destination + specific property for your destination wedding, Tips for your overall planning timeline, finding vendors, and making your guest list, Top wedding destinations for 2023 & beyond, Seasonal travel volume & weather alerts to be aware of, Biggest mistakes couples make when planning a destination wedding, And so much more! Susan has personally helped me plan TWO unforgettable vacations, and I can guarantee there will be many more!  Her genunine love of travel and new experiences - and wanting to SHARE that with her clients - is evident in every single step of working with her & her team.  For a FREE viritual consultation with Susan, visit her calendar linked here. And don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast during your initial consultation for $200 off your final destination wedding booking!   Cheers to you & the trip of a lifetime! A note from Susan: I am so excited to work with you and talk about a Destination Wedding! With over 27 years in the business and over 200 destination weddings, I have lots of insight and experience. It's a huge love for me! Some things to know before we meet: Where are you thinking on getting married? When are you thinking on getting married? Will there be kids at your wedding (under 18)? What do you think your wedding budget is? We will talk all about this, but just to get things started! Thank you again! Susan  

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we're exploring some basic modifications to "traditional" wedding hosting formats that will result in MAJOR DOLLARS SAVED! Tune in for easy ways to MAXIMIZE your wedding budget - aka get MORE of the things you want - simply by making a small adjustment here & there to your hosting format, timing, and/or season. ALL NEW!  BOOK A 1-ON-1 WEDDING STRATEGY CALL www.wedpodcast.com If you have the beginnings of a really creative wedding vision that you’d like to talk through to discuss overall feasibility, options, or pricing comparison - I have 1-on-1 wedding strategy calls available. Here are some sample topics from couples I spoke with this past week: >>> "Our budget has ballooned since booking a venue, photographer, and planner - what are some ways we can get things back under control moving forward?" >>> "We want to rent an Airbnb and host our wedding at a national park - is that even possible?" >>> "I got quotes from 3 planners and 4 photographers, and I'm feeling overwhelmed with all the information and not sure how to make our final decision."   >>> "We have a unique wedding set up, and wondering what's better - a day-of, month-of, or full service wedding planner?" >>> "I want to do our own flowers & bouquets, can you give me a simple roadmap for what to do and when?" Visit wedpodcast.com today to book a single call / series of calls.  Earliest available call dates start March 20th.  Book now, they will fill up fast! 

Today we’re going to discuss what the post-covid economy means for YOUR WEDDING plans over the rest of 2023, and into 2024. Even more importantly, we're going to review some simple ways that you can MAXIMIZE YOUR SPENDING POWER to get everything you want most out of your wedding celebration.  Disclaimer - I am not an economist.  I have literally never had any formal education in economics beyond knowing that inflation affects me when the carwash is $1 more expensive today than it was last week, and instead of being able to buy 2 gallons of milk and 18 eggs at Costco for $8, now I have to choose one or the other.  In just one day, I had 3 calls with couples from very different parts of the US, but the theme was the same - holy sh*!, are these quotes and prices we're getting back from vendors actually normal?! And I know that if 100% of the conversations I have in one single day are related to the economy and how damn expensive everything is right now, then this is something that’s on all of our minds in one way or another. I’m not here to claim that I understand the issue at the deepest, most granular level, or that I have all the answers - I simply thought it would be helpful to describe the problem and some reasons why it’s happening, and more importantly to offer some actionable ways that we as wedding industry consumers can increase our spending power.   In my 1-on-1 calls Wedding Strategy Calls with members of my digital planning package, the majority of our conversations so far this year are centering around how to modify a professional product or service so that it’s more compatible with our overall budget and their priorities.  In other words, what are some easy ways that we can MAXIMIZE our budget so that we can have more of the things we want? If you’re someone who’s looking for a professional, unbiased eye to evaluate some high-level cost-savings opportunities OR suggestions on how to really maximize your spending power, I DO still have 1-on-1 calls available for new members! This rare bonus packs some seriously HUGE VALUE, and I will continue offering monthly 1-on-1 to new members for as long as possible ... HOWEVER, spots are filling quickly, and I literally only have so many hours in the day, so you'll want to head to wedpodcast.com for complete details and book your first 1-on-1 wedding strategy call today. Talk soon! Cheers, Kara THANK YOU to this week's supporting show sponsors: FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with Minted Weddings & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

In this brand new episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast, I’m sharing AN ULTIMATE ENGAGEMENT CHECKLIST, including 10 key "to-do's" to launch your wedding planning journey into action. CONGRATULATIONS!  The days & weeks after saying "YES!" are a whirlwind of fun & excitement ... From sharing the news with your loved ones, flashing that ring every chance you get, and dreaming of cakes and dresses, you're definitely at the start of an unforgettable time in your lives. I’ve worked with thousands of engaged couples over the past 7 years of producing this podcast, and most of them are in autopilot mode already at this point in the planning process. And unfortunately, those couples miss a much larger opportunity.  An opportunity to wait patiently for their ideal wedding vision to unfold BEFORE going out and making big, irreversible decisions that end up really limiting what’s possible for them ... and I don’t want that for you.   SO MUCH MORE inside today's free audio meeting! THANK YOU to this week's show sponsors: Welcome to The VAULT, a unique subscription-based planning tool for couples who are dreaming of an UNFORGETTABLE WEDDING CELEBRATION ... minus the crushing stress, expense, and overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples.  * * * NEW MEMBER BONUS * * * Get 1-ON-1 CALLS included for the lifetime of your membership!  CLICK HERE for details. Visit Generation Tux, where you can build your suit & tuxedo looks from home, get free color swatches, a free Home Try-On, AND manage your entire wedding party online. FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with Minted Weddings & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

"When the initial excitement settled, we felt like planning an entire wedding seemed really expensive, overwhelming, and exhausting." Let me back up ... My now-husband John proposed in the summer of 2009, at the end of a 3-week trip we took through Europe. We were in Paris - our last stop - and we waited for hours to get to the lower platform of the Eiffel Tower, where he dropped to his knee with the sparking lights of the tower above us, and lit up city buildings & river boats in the distance. We never even had dinner that night because it got so late, but you know how it is with the crazy excitement you felt on your engagement day - dinner didn’t even matter. We had just lived an incredibly powerful moment that was about to change our lives forever. Within weeks, my ring was resized and fit perfectly. We had shared the news with literally everyone we knew, and we started discussions about potential venues and dates, and of course, the elephant in the room - how we would pay for everything. * SPOILER ALERT * These conversations weren’t very productive, and we didn’t have any breakthrough revelations other than feeling like planning an entire wedding seemed really expensive, overwhelming, and exhausting. My mom, sister & best friends were incredibly excited, and couldn’t wait to start planning showers, parties, dress shopping trips, and fun wedding projects. But underneath all the buzz and excitement? There was this nagging discomfort / doubt / anxiety that I just couldn't shake ... It had started as a passing thought, but was starting to grow bigger and harder to ignore. This is when I started to realize that John and I had never even discussed our actual wedding ideas before getting engaged, and the logistics and finances of planning and hosting everything were already incredibly overwhelming - And we really HADN'T EVEN GOTTEN STARTED, which multiplied that feeling by 10x. The cost of living in San Diego was sky high (as it still is, everywhere). We were working really hard to advance in our careers so that we could do and have ALL the fun things. We had some money saved, but not a ton … and we definitely didn't "plan" to spill over onto credit cards to pay for our wedding (trust me, no one "plans" to). So what did we do? PIVOT. We shifted into a completely different mindset. We STOPPED looking at our wedding through the lens of tradition and "what everyone else is doing", and we started thinking outside the box about ways we could create a truly unique experience for our loved ones that didn’t look like every wedding we had already been to. A wedding that wouldn’t be over in a matter of hours, and wouldn’t require tens of thousands of dollars or credit card debt to pay for. Great, so we had made some progress, and we were SO EXCITED about the glimmer of a vision that was starting to come together ... but all of the actual logistics were still hanging over us, like a heavy cloud. Having a vision is one thing, but we had no idea what to focus on first .... A venue? Food & drinks? How do you know if you can afford one thing if you have no idea how much everything else costs? How do you make one decision knowing that it hinges on 27 other things that you can't pin down right this moment? Obviously I needed to find a wedding planner to help us sort out the next steps, because basic, you have to hire a wedding planner, right? I met with a handful of planners who all walked confidently into the Starbucks or bistro bar, high heels clicking, portfolio ready to share - FFWD thru 3 days + 3 meetings, and none of them were LISTENING TO ME. I talked about creative visions of fondue pots on small, intimate 4-top tables, renting a giant mansion for a long wedding weekend, hosting 3-4 separate parties & events, and having someone who could be there to organize and direct independently hired bartenders and servers and coordinate the weekend-of logistics for us. And I was met with blank stare after blank stare. Politely told that it wouldn’t work because of A, B, C reason, and had we considered cookie cutter venue D, E, and F which works with preferred vendors X, Y and Z? The thought of paying someone thousands of dollars who clearly had no interest whatsoever in our wedding vision was clearly out of the question. I came home literally crying after interviewing the third planner on my list - she cut me off repeatedly, actually laughed at my fondue idea saying it would be impossible, left me with a list of her preferred vendors and a deadline to decide by Friday or else she was booking another client. Wow. And the bow on top is that she came highly recommended to me by a friend, which made the entire experience even more disappointing. If you’ve ever met with a pushy vendor who’s so obviously just trying to book up their calendar as fast as possible, you know exactly what it feels like to have your ideas dismissed and to be completely unheard. In that moment, John and I were left with a choice. We could have eventually found an affordable enough venue, chosen the cheapest meal option, and gone broke paying for a top shelf open-bar (which incidentally, was one of John’s "wedding non-negotiables"). We could have scrapped and saved and charged a few things on credit cards to bring it all together in a wedding that wouldn’t be the best of the best, and definitely wouldn’t be featured in any wedding magazines or blogs ... but hopefully our friends & family wouldn’t be too judge-y and would understand the financial constraints of treating 100 of your closest loved ones to a nice dinner, bottomless drinks, and dancing. We’d check off all the boxes, run through all the traditions, and at the end of the day, we’d be married. After all, wasn’t that the whole point? And in that critical moment, thank goodness we woke up and saw that NO - That’s not ANYWHERE NEAR THE POINT. And I’m here today sharing this all with you because it scares the hell out of me to think of how close we were to NOT following our vision, and to just going through the motions, and I don’t want that for you. And at the same time, it breaks my heart to think of how many engaged couples every single day are in the same position that we were, but who DON’T find the right resources and support and encouragement to follow their dream vision, and who aren't lucky enough to go on to design the wedding that they truly want. So back to the story - in this pivotal moment, John & I took a giant leap of faith, and committed to planning our wedding OUR WAY - to hell with narcissist wedding planners, cookie cutter checklists, outdated traditions, expectations, or worrying about what anyone else thought of our decisions. We got on the same page with this mindset, and we had deep discussions about the things that were most important to us. In the end, we rented a 7,000 square foot mansion, did our own catering - yes, we planned out, shopped for, and brought to life that giant fondue party that was so important to us - we spent 4 solid days hanging out with our 75 closest friends and family, eating, drinking, dancing, talking, staying up late, laughing, and we did it ALL for around $12,000 - for transparency sake, that was in 2010 so someone good at math and economics can adjust for inflation - or, you could trust the "inflation calculator" I found online and use the number $17,000 in today's world. EITHER WAY, for the overall value and priceless experience for everyone involved, I’m going to stand firm in saying that’s pretty damn good!!! The couples who give up on the new approach to planning that we focus on here on the Wedding Planning Podcast will likely stay stuck exactly where I was in the story I just told, after meeting with the awful 3rd wedding planner. They’ll do exactly what most couples do, and freak out over how much there is to do, how much things cost, and how complicated it feels to go off the beaten path … They'll cave when someone is critical of a fun idea, and pull back when they feel judged for something that they did or didn't do. John and I faced skeptical, judge-y eyes too many times to count throughout our entire planning process - but that's another story, for another time. And they’ll fall back to the status quo wedding planners, the big corporate websites, and the free checklists to plan a cookie cutter wedding for them, without ever even knowing the priceless opportunity that has slipped away. The opportunity to design the wedding that YOU actually want, and to share a once-in-a-lifetime experience with your loved ones that leaves a lasting sense of love & connection for decades to come. And to miss out on that, is quite simply, heartbreaking. But here's the final, most important part of this very long email: Unforgettable, life-changing weddings don't just "happen". They don't just magically arise from the mountain of printouts and free checklists, and magazines, budget calculators and Pinterest boards and reels that you consume on loop. And just having a wedding vision isn't enough, without continued support, encouragement, and ongoing direction. The most meaningful & unforgettable wedding celebrations are planned carefully, ONE STEP AT A TIME using a 3-part framework that I've spent the past 12 years perfecting. And the best part is that it's all available for you to enjoy inside my signature planning package,  The VAULT  .   The VAULT  isn't like working with a traditional wedding planner, with contracts, deposits, balances due, and a set number of meetings and phone calls.   Membership unlocks   access to a down-to-earth, easy to follow wedding master plan that gets to the heart of what truly makes a wedding UNFORGETTABLE and LIFE-CHANGING, for everyone involved. And when you sign up today,  you'll even enjoy a 1-on-1, 30-Minute Wedding Strategy call each month that you're a member.  I have literally NEVER offered this before, and I'm so excited to connect. I can't wait to see you there, and to learn more about you & your wedding! Cheers, Kara Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!  

A universal truth?  Your wedding day will FLY BY.  Having a well-thought out, well-planned WEDDING DAY TIMELINE is critical to keeping the day organized, and flowing stress free.  In this featured episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast, we’re actually reviewing & creating two separate timelines: The DAY-OF TIMELINE, including all the events between waking up, and the wedding reception beginning,   The RECEPTION TIMELINE, including the events that will happen within the reception itself. We’re going to focus on the DAY-OF timeline first, and you’ll find specifics on creating your reception timeline in the second half of this meeting.   Here’s a link to the Pinterest Wedding Timeline examples that I mentioned in the show. A special thank you to today's show sponsors for making this episode possible: Shop Etsy for one-of-a-kind wedding day details, personalized just for you!  FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with Minted Weddings & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more. SUSAN'S TRAVEL SERVICES | Would you LOVE to take advantage of honeymoon planning services for your all-inclusive, cruise, or exotic honeymoon AND get $50 off when you book?  Simply email susan@susanstravelservices.com to get started!

Your WEDDING CEREMONY is undoubtedly the most important part of your wedding day celebration - it's literally the WHY of every single thing we touch on here on the Wedding Planning Podcast! Sadly most couples push the ceremony logistics to the very bottom of their wedding planning to-do list, and as a result, this critical piece of your wedding day misses getting the full attention & creativity that it deserves.  Tune in to the full show for a start-to-finish guide for infusing your ceremony with deep meaning and your personalities.  We’re also going to cover: Ceremony flow of events, Finding an officiant,  Your wedding vows,  And finally some additional ways to incorporate meaning and personality. A well-crafted wedding ceremony will perfectly express your relationship as a couple.  It should make your guests understand exactly why they are at the wedding, and may address the couples past, present and future.  We can be serious, lighthearted, traditional or a mix of all three - your ceremony doesn’t have to follow any script, and you’re free to personalize this portion of your day in any way you like! ADDITIONAL LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODE: Claim your FREE Engagement Starter Kit here! LEAVE A VOICEMAIL with your questions, wedding stories, or planning concerns >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact Sample Wedding Vows & Guide / Examples  Creative unity ceremony ideas  Take the guesswork & stress out of choosing the music for your special day!  Visit MyWeddingSongs.com today to prepare your wedding music for FREE and enjoy over 600 custom wedding playlists. For unique ceremony signage, wedding program inspiration & more, visit Pinterest. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking! FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with Minted Weddings & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more.

If you’re looking for some CREATIVE, EASY + AFFORDABLE wedding reception entertainment options that go way beyond dinner, drinks & dancing, then this wedding planning workshop is perfect for you! Today’s wedding receptions feature creative entertainment ideas that are increasingly more personalized, more interactive, and more representative of your values, personal style and tastes.   There are endless ways to reimagine classic wedding reception entertainment & activities, and create a memorable, shared WEDDING EXPERIENCE based on your values & priorities. In this meeting, we’re covering an overview of creative wedding entertainment ideas, and highlighting some fun twists on tradition that you can plan to treat your guests to an unforgettable experience.   GATHERING INSPIRATION FROM PINTEREST I know podcasts don’t always lend well to visual examples, and I don't like simply rattling off long lists during the show ... so here’s a list of search terms that you can simply copy / paste into Pinterest for instant wedding entertainment ideas & inspiration! creative wedding guest book ideas wedding seating chart ideas wedding place card table ideas DIY selfie station  DIY wedding photo backdrop, Bouquet toss ideas Garder toss ideas Money dance ideas Creative wedding toast Dessert bar ideas, Unique first dance ideas For easy tips on getting a private Facebook group up and running, you can visit this link. FREE ENGAGEMENT STARTER KIT BONUS SERIES Redeem at allnew.wedding If you’re newly engaged and / or looking to kick off the new year with a fresh start on your wedding plans, then you’ll definitely want to check out my totally free Engagement Starter Kit. I’ve packaged up a 4-part bonus audio series that’s designed to unlock the essential keys to a down-to-earth, stress-free and JOYFUL wedding planning experience. In the FREE Engagement Starter Kit BONUS SERIES, we unlock exactly how to align your WEDDING PRIORITIES with your PLANNING STRATEGY, so that you can confidently design an unforgettable wedding celebration - minus the crushing stress & overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples. SIGN UP TODAY for this incredibly valuable (and totally free!) 4-day wedding planning workshop by visiting allnew.wedding A very special thank you to today’s show sponsors: Meet The Financial Gym, where Certified Financial Trainers™ work with clients like you to teach financial literacy, how to be accountable for their money, and how to make smarter, more strategic decisions about their finances. Visit financialgym.com/wedding for more info and use code wedding to get 20% off your first year of membership Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking!

A LOT of our energy during the wedding planning process is centered around the fear that things will go wrong, and how we can avoid and prevent minor mistakes - and major disasters - on our wedding day.   I’ve been deeply involved with weddings for over a decade, and candidly, it’s a universal truth - no matter how much you plan and prep and delegate and assign, something will go wrong and / or not according to plan at some point during your wedding celebration.   The good news is that big or small, I have some solid practices that you can use right now to be able to adapt, improvise, and mentally overcome any unforeseen issues & challenges that are bound to arise. Tune in to today's brand new episode for so much more! FREE ENGAGEMENT STARTER KIT Redeem at allnew.wedding If you’re newly engaged and / or looking to kick off the new year with a fresh start on your wedding plans, then you’ll definitely want to check out my totally free Engagement Starter Kit. I’ve packaged up a 4-part bonus audio series that’s designed to unlock the essential keys to a down-to-earth, stress-free and JOYFUL wedding planning experience. In the FREE Engagement Starter Kit BONUS SERIES, we unlock exactly how to align your WEDDING PRIORITIES with your PLANNING STRATEGY, so that you can confidently design an unforgettable wedding celebration - minus the crushing stress & overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples. SIGN UP TODAY for this incredibly valuable (and totally free!) 4-day wedding planning workshop by visiting allnew.wedding Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking! Meet The Financial Gym, where Certified Financial Trainers™ work with clients like you to teach financial literacy, how to be accountable for their money, and how to make smarter, more strategic decisions about their finances.Visit financialgym.com/wedding for more info and use code wedding to get 20% off your first year of membership! Visit Generation Tux, where you can build your suit & tuxedo looks from home, get free color swatches, a free Home Try-On, AND manage your entire wedding party online.

There are a million directions we could take a conversation on wedding reception & ceremony decor, but for the sake of keeping it simple … let’s keep it simple! Tune in for some extra-simplified TIME, STRESS, AND MONEY-SAVING OPPORTUNITIES in today's featured wedding planning workshop, all about decorating your special day.   FREE ENGAGEMENT STARTER KIT BONUS SERIES Redeem at allnew.wedding If you’re newly engaged and looking to kick off the new year with a fresh start on your wedding plans, then you’ll definitely want to check out my totally free Engagement Starter Kit!   I’ve packaged up a 3-part bonus audio series that’s designed to unlock the essential keys to a down-to-earth, stress-free and JOYFUL wedding planning experience. In the FREE Engagement Starter Kit BONUS SERIES, we unlock exactly how to align your WEDDING PRIORITIES with your PLANNING STRATEGY, so that you can confidently design an unforgettable wedding celebration - minus the crushing stress & overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples. SIGN UP TODAY for this incredibly valuable (totally free!) 4-day wedding planning workshop by visiting allnew.wedding Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking! Meet The Financial Gym, where Certified Financial Trainers™ work with clients like you to teach financial literacy, how to be accountable for their money, and how to make smarter, more strategic decisions about their finances. Visit financialgym.com/wedding for more info and use code wedding to get 20% off your first year of membership

Join thousands of INTENTIONAL + JOYFUL engaged couples who know that the wedding celebration of their dreams is possible ... even if right now, planning an entire wedding feels a *little bit* overwhelming! Be sure to hit FOLLOW wherever you listen, and each Wednesday you'll enjoy a FREE, down-to-earth + straight-to-the-point wedding planning "meeting" where we explore everything from: Hidden TIME + MONEY + STRESS savers, Decoding the complex process of researching + hiring your team of IDEAL VENDORS, Identifying + incorporating your top VALUES into your celebration, Muting the noise + remaining laser-focused on a SMART PLANNING STRATEGY,  ENHANCING YOUR RELATIONSHIP with your partner, your family + your loved ones, Monthly "Ask Anything" opportunities with your host, Kara And so much MORE!   FREE ENGAGEMENT STARTER KIT BONUS SERIES >>> redeem at allnew.wedding There's an ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding ... ... and you won't find it on any free wedding checklist or generic planning timeline. In the FREE Engagement Starter Kit BONUS SERIES, we unlock exactly how to align your WEDDING PRIORITIES with your PLANNING STRATEGY, so that you can confidently design an unforgettable wedding celebration - minus the crushing stress & overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples. SIGN UP TODAY for this incredibly valuable (totally free!) 4-day wedding planning workshop by visiting allnew.wedding   ACCESS THE WPP DIGITAL WEDDING PLANNING PACKAGE There's an ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding, minus the crushing stress, excess, and overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples.  For more information + FREE 3-DAY TRIAL, visit wedpodcast.com.  There are absolutely no contracts, zero obligation, and you're free to cancel anytime - no questions asked.  I can't wait to see you there!   SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS FOR "ASK ME ANYTHING" SHOW SEGMENTS To submit questions or topic requests for an upcoming show, simply FOLLOW @weddingplanningpodcast on Instagram & send a DM (direct message) on the platform.  *VAULT Members have priority access to all "ASK ME ANYTHING" segments & bonus show materials. Due to the sheer volume of your love and support, we regretfully cannot personally reply to all messages, but every submission is carefully logged & tracked for consideration in upcoming episodes & bonus shows. EMAIL RECAPS, IMPORTANT UPDATES & SPECIAL OFFERS Sign up to receive weekly email recaps, important updates, and special offers from our partners by visiting www.weddingplanningpodcast.co

Lucky for us, there are literally endless creative ways to treat your guests to a unique food & drink experience on your wedding day.  In today’s BONUS WORKSHOP, we’re going to explore exactly how to: Conceptualize & research what to serve, Smart money-saving tips that many couples miss, And even some "do it yourself" options if you’re looking to get hands on - literally! FREE ENGAGEMENT STARTER KIT BONUS SERIES Redeem at allnew.wedding There's an ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding ... ... and you won't find it on any free wedding checklist or generic planning timeline. In the FREE Engagement Starter Kit BONUS SERIES, we unlock exactly how to align your WEDDING PRIORITIES with your PLANNING STRATEGY, so that you can confidently design an unforgettable wedding celebration - minus the crushing stress & overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples. SIGN UP TODAY for this incredibly valuable (totally free!) 4-day wedding planning workshop by visiting allnew.wedding FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with Minted Weddings & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking! Shop Etsy for one-of-a-kind wedding day details, personalized just for you >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/etsy

Shopping for your wedding dress can come with lots of mixed emotions - both good AND not-so-good - and that’s 100% normal.  It’s OK to go into wedding dress shopping feeling some confusion and doubt!  In pop wedding culture, saying “YES TO THE DRESS” is a once-in-a-lifetime milestone full of princess moments, fancy dress boutiques, and champagne. In REALITY, dress shopping might come along with feelings of ... self-consciousness, pressing overwhelm, conflicting thoughts about who should come along, discomfort over being the center of attention, feeling lost in a totally uncomfortable situation, ... just to name a few. In the first half of today's show, we run through some quick guidelines that will help demystify the wedding dress shopping process, and put you in full control of the way your experience unfolds. In the second half of the show, we're heading inside David's Bridal to try on dresses.  You'll hear live snippets of conversation on the pro's, the con's, the do's and the don'ts of finding your dream wedding dress.   You can find a full recap of today’s show in a blog post that’s at www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/dress.   FREE ENGAGEMENT STARTER KIT BONUS SERIES Redeem at allnew.wedding There's an ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding ... ... and you won't find it on any free wedding checklist or generic planning timeline. In the FREE Engagement Starter Kit BONUS SERIES, we unlock exactly how to align your WEDDING PRIORITIES with your PLANNING STRATEGY, so that you can confidently design an unforgettable wedding celebration - minus the crushing stress & overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples. SIGN UP TODAY for this incredibly valuable (totally free!) 4-day wedding planning workshop by visiting allnew.wedding FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with Minted Weddings & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking! Shop Etsy for one-of-a-kind wedding day details, personalized just for you >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/etsy  

You’ve done months (maybe even YEARS) of wedding planning & preparation, and the big day is finally almost here! Last stop?  Rehearsal dinner. This week we’re reviewing everything you need to know for planning & hosting this extra special night with your family & friends. We cover everything from the ceremony rehearsal itself to practical tips for hosting your loved ones afterwards. DETAILED BLOG POST HERE --> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/rehearsal Naturally, I have a ton of creative alternatives to taking 50 of your closest friends & family out to eat at a nice restaurant ($$$).  Beyond just saving money, we’ll also cover: When to start planning (hint - it might be earlier than you think!) Personality-packed options for location and food selection Tips for keeping the night on pace and organized And meaningful touches that will be remembered beyond the wedding day. This topic is so dear to me - I remember our rehearsal dinner as one of the most special nights of my life.  We grilled chicken, steak & veggies with our friends & family on the property where we got married, had all the fave drinks flowing, and a curated list of our favorite songs turned way up.  We laughed, talked & celebrated long past sunset, and it was a magical night.  I wish all the same for you! xo, Kara PS - A special thank you to today's show sponsors: Don't miss the Wedding Planning Podcast Photography & Videography mini-planning package! Get instant access AND save 75% when you visit wedpodcast.com. Design the perfect cheese board, every single time!  Go to cheeselovershop.com and use code wedding to get a FREE mystery cheese at checkout. Meet The Financial Gym, where Certified Financial Trainers™ work with clients like you to teach financial literacy, how to be accountable for their money, and how to make smarter, more strategic decisions about their finances. Visit financialgym.com/wedding for more info and use code wedding to get 20% off your first year of membership Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking!

Today we’re exploring the TOP MISTAKES that couples make as they start to formulate options for wedding flowers, including centerpieces, bouquets & boutonnieres, garlands & ceremony decor. ADDITIONAL LINKS & RESOURCES mentioned in today's show: A detailed guide on Wedding Flowers By Season Access 6 bonus meetings dedicated to DIY flowers & decor within my digital planning package, The Vault - lots more information here. I'm collecting your wedding questions & topic requests for new shows in 2023.  Leave a voicemail with your questions here. Don't miss the Wedding Planning Podcast Photography & Videography mini-planning package.  Get instant access AND save 75% when you visit wedpodcast.com.  A special thank you to today's show sponsors: Meet The Financial Gym, where Certified Financial Trainers™ work with clients like you to teach financial literacy, how to be accountable for their money, and how to make smarter, more strategic decisions about their finances. Visit financialgym.com/wedding for more info and use code wedding to get 20% off your first year of membership I'm going to Cancun for Christmas this year, and I have Susan's Travel Services to thank for managing ALL of the research, booking & details of our trip!  Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking. Enjoy a FREE SUIT OR TUXEDO RENTAL for the wedding couple with 5 paid wedding party members at www.generationtux.com  

Get started finding your perfect wedding photography team with the TIME + MONEY SAVING RESEARCH TIPS featured in today's show! These are my top photography / videography search guidelines and are the perfect place to start ... But you’ll quickly discover that there’s so much more that goes into finding your perfect photographer: Knowing intuitively when & how to NEGOTIATE PRICING + PACKAGE SPECIFICS, Photography CONTRACT ESSENTIALS, Creating a top-notch MASTER SHOT LIST, Preparing for your ENGAGEMENT PHOTO SHOOT, Should we do a "FIRST LOOK"? VIDEOGRAPHY specifics , Is DIY PHOTOGRAPHY and/or videography an option - for your pre-wedding parties & events, rehearsal, or maybe even your wedding day?  Actionable tips for DIY VIDEOGRAPHY from a bride who pulled it off (AND has an amazing wedding video to show for it!) Is it OK to hire a "rookie" photographer who doesn’t have a ton of experience, or is that a horrible idea?  What secrets & tips would a veteran wedding photographer share with you one on one, over coffee? You’ll find the answers to all of those questions and so much more within the Wedding Planning Podcast Photography & Videography mini-planning package.  Get instant access AND save 75% when you visit wedpodcast.com.  I'm going to Cancun for Christmas this year, and I have Susan's Travel Services to thank for managing ALL of the research, booking & details of our trip!  Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking.

The pressure + hype behind discovering your dream WEDDING VENUE is very real.  In my professional opinion, your wedding venue is the most important strategic decision you'll make in the entire wedding planning process.  Why is your venue such a big deal?  Multiple other wedding decisions are interdependent on the venue you choose.  Once you solidify the WHERE, your complete wedding day vision can really start to unfold.  Complicating the process, wedding venues literally come in all sizes, prices, and styles.  The possibilities are endless, so it’s key that we go into the research process with a handful of streamlined search filters to dodge being overwhelmed with all the options. In this workshop-style meeting, we'll review SIX important things to consider as you start shopping around for the perfect venue to host your wedding celebration. FREE ENGAGEMENT STARTER KIT BONUS SERIES Redeem at allnew.wedding There's an ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding ... ... and you won't find it on any free wedding checklist or generic planning timeline. In the FREE Engagement Starter Kit BONUS SERIES, we unlock exactly how to align your WEDDING PRIORITIES with your PLANNING STRATEGY, so that you can confidently design an unforgettable wedding celebration - minus the crushing stress & overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples. SIGN UP TODAY for this incredibly valuable (totally free!) 4-day wedding planning workshop by visiting allnew.wedding A special thank you to today's show sponsors: Shop Etsy for one-of-a-kind wedding day details, personalized just for you >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/etsy Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking! Minted Weddings features beautiful one-of-a-kind stationary designs by independent artists, not to mention top-notch quality & service.  This is why I order our family holiday cards from them every single year!  Request a FREE Save The Date or Wedding Invitation Sample Kit when you visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted.

Would you volunteer to host Thanksgiving for 40 people and then rush out to the store with no menu planned & no shopping list? No way!  You’d sit down and plan out a menu of app's & drinks, look up some recipes, and then make a detailed list of exactly what you need to buy. So why on earth would you head out to a WEDDING FAIR / BRIDAL EXPO with absolutely no plan, and just "see what happens"? Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast we’re going to take inventory of your priorities, and make a list of your top goals for your day spent at the wedding fair.  This way you can MAXIMIZE your time spent with vendors and gathering inspiration, and minimize the stress & overwhelm factor of wandering through hundreds of booths full of noisy commotion.  After our time together today, when the 15th DJ asks you if you want to dance, and the 22nd wedding planner asks you to spin their "wheel o' fun" ... ... you can confidently smile, say no thanks, and keep walking.  To submit questions for an upcoming show, simply visit our website and leave me a voicemail!  Due to the sheer volume of your love and support, we regretfully cannot personally reply to each submission ... you'll receive a reply via email if your submission is queued for an upcoming episode. Today's show is just the beginning of dozens of strategic recorded meetings that walk you through exactly how to identify your top priorities & plan your dream wedding!  Learn more and sign up for a totally free 3-day trial of my revolutionary digital wedding planning package by visiting www.wedpodcast.com Cheers to you! Kara A special thank you to today's show sponsors for making this episode possible: Shop Etsy for one-of-a-kind wedding day details, personalized just for you >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/etsy Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking! Minted Weddings features beautiful one-of-a-kind stationary designs by independent artists, not to mention top-notch quality & service.  This is why I order our family holiday cards from them every single year!  Request a FREE Save The Date or Wedding Invitation Sample Kit when you visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted.

There are countless UNIQUE ways to celebrate your wedding / bridal shower (that don't involve sitting around and playing awkward games with your female friends & relatives!).  In this week's episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast, we're giving the "traditional" wedding shower some much-needed updates.  Listen in for creative + modern twists that you're sure to fall in love with. In many cases you don’t plan your own shower, so please feel free to forward this episode along to anyone who's helping you with your wedding plans! For a complete written version of today's show, visit weddingplanningpodcast.co/podcast A special thank you to today's show sponsors: Meet The Financial Gym, where Certified Financial Trainers™ work with clients like you to teach financial literacy, how to be accountable for their money, and how to make smarter, more strategic decisions about their finances. Visit financialgym.com/wedding for more info and use code wedding to get 20% off your first year of membership Enjoy a FREE SUIT OR TUXEDO RENTAL for the wedding couple with 5 paid wedding party members at www.generationtux.com Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com. Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking! ON-DEMAND wedding planning services anytime, anywhere?  Yes, please!  To sign up for what one VAULT members calls “a breath of fresh air in the wedding industry” simply visit www.wedpodcast.com

Need a little help decoding the complex, often frustrating process of creating your wedding GUEST LIST?  Finalizing who will actually receive a wedding invitation is a process that will likely take some time, revisions, cuts, and LOTS of patience. In this week's featured wedding planning meeting, we’re uncovering the KEY CHECKPOINTS to crafting a guest list that honors your wedding vision & budget, and reflects your top priorities. Once your general wedding budget and a venue are decided on, compiling a finalized guest list is the next key step in the early stages of planning out your wedding celebration. Family & friends are the centerpiece of our lives, and naturally you'll want to include your closest loved ones in this very special celebration. That's the easy part ... Planning your wedding involves a ton of strategic research & decision-making, yes - that’s the stuff you can look up on Google.  How to book a wedding photographer.  Cheap wedding invitations.  Top wedding venues in my area.    But there’s an entirely separate dimension of your engagement & wedding planning journey, that you’ll hear me call “the all new way to plan your wedding” - and that’s all stuff that you can’t google.  No internet search engine in the world knows your priorities, your personal values, or can spit out a truly personalized road map to the wedding that YOU WANT by typing a few words into a box.  You can’t google “how do I confidently sail through my engagement on-budget, stress-free, and loving the process?”   Computers can do a lot, but they can’t replace the priceless value of human connection and introspection … that’s what I’m here for, and that's the deeper work that I can help coach you & your fiance through.  Thousands of engaged couples ARE confidently sailing through their engagement on-budget, stress-free, and loving the process, and you can do it to inside my digital wedding planning package.  If you’re curious to know more, head to wedpodcast.com to learn more. I hope you love today’s workshop on crafting your wedding guest list!   ASK ME ANYTHING ... Submit your wedding budget questions for this week's bonus "Ask Me Anything" >>> send a DM on Intsagram to @weddingplanningpodcast FREE ENGAGEMENT STARTER KIT BONUS SERIES Redeem at allnew.wedding There's an ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding ... ... and you won't find it on any free wedding checklist or generic planning timeline. In the FREE Engagement Starter Kit BONUS SERIES, we unlock exactly how to align your WEDDING PRIORITIES with your PLANNING STRATEGY, so that you can confidently design an unforgettable wedding celebration - minus the crushing stress & overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples. SIGN UP TODAY for this incredibly valuable (totally free!) 4-day wedding planning workshop by visiting allnew.wedding

"The more care & intention you put into your wedding plans throughout your engagement, the richer your wedding celebration & life beyond will be." Should you hire a WEDDING PLANNER / Day of Coodinator?  In today's workshop-style meeting, we’re going to review a list of critical guidelines to keep in mind as you tackle this very important part of your engagement journey. It’s time for a NEW WAY to create your dream wedding celebration, where YOU, your values, and your priorities are at the center of every single decision you make from now until your wedding day, & beyond. So let’s say goodbye to unrealistic, staged images on Pinterest of weddings in the forest that cost $32,000 - in decorations alone.  It’s time to tune out overhyped social media accounts that are pushing the $72 billion dollar wedding industry’s agenda.   Here on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we say no to the wedding industry’s priorities, and we say YES to a more fulfilled engagement season that starts with YOU.   FREE ENGAGEMENT STARTER KIT BONUS SERIES Redeem at allnew.wedding There's an ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding ... ... and you won't find it on any free wedding checklist or generic planning timeline. In the FREE Engagement Starter Kit BONUS SERIES, we unlock exactly how to align your WEDDING PRIORITIES with your PLANNING STRATEGY, so that you can confidently design an unforgettable wedding celebration - minus the crushing stress & overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples. SIGN UP TODAY for this incredibly valuable (totally free!) 4-day wedding planning workshop by visiting allnew.wedding Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking!

Today's workshop-style meeting is designed to magically make possible all the wedding things that are most important to you, regardless of how much money you have in the budget.  Sounds amazing, right???  This is not your average wedding budget conversation.  There are no percentage breakdowns on how much you "should" spend on what, no "average cost" conversations, and absolutely no judgement if you want to spend $500 on your wedding, and $10,000 on your honeymoon.   It’s time for a NEW WAY to create your dream wedding celebration, where YOU, your values, and your priorities are at the center of every single decision you make from now until your wedding day, & beyond. So let’s say goodbye to unrealistic, staged images on Pinterest of weddings in the forest that cost $32,000 - in decorations alone.  It’s time to tune out overhyped social media accounts that are pushing the $72 billion dollar wedding industry’s agenda.   Here on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we say NO to the wedding industry’s priorities, and we say yes to a more fulfilled engagement season that starts with YOU.   FREE ENGAGEMENT STARTER KIT BONUS SERIES Redeem at allnew.wedding There's an ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding ... ... and you won't find it on any free wedding checklist or generic planning timeline. In the FREE Engagement Starter Kit BONUS SERIES, we unlock exactly how to align your WEDDING PRIORITIES with your PLANNING STRATEGY, so that you can confidently design an unforgettable wedding celebration - minus the crushing stress & overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples. SIGN UP TODAY for this incredibly valuable (totally free!) 4-day wedding planning workshop by visiting allnew.wedding Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking!

The theme of this week's show is COMPOROMISE. We're exploring the importance of being on the same page with respect to finances, how you spend your free time, and of course, the ability to COMPROMISE - whether it's about your honeymoon or your wedding guest list.  Tune in for so much more! Thank you again to everyone who was in touch with the show these past couple of weeks! I’m pushing hard for new stories from you about your engagement, wedding planning milestones, questions, anxieties, and anything else you’d like to share.  I’d love to feature your voice on the podcast, so please get in touch with your stories and questions by heading to weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact.  I can’t wait to hear from you! Take advantage of expert honeymoon planning services for your all-inclusive, cruise, or exotic honeymoon AND get $50 off when you book!  Simply email susan@susanstravelservices.com to get started.

RE: wedding flowers, if you’re feeling ... Sticker shock from that $2500 florist quote, Having anxiety thinking about taking the DIY route, Or maybe even starting to wonder if flowers are actually necessary at all … Not to worry - you’ve got options when it comes to your wedding flowers, and we’re going to explore them all in this episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast! This show is a very general overview, and you can find so much more on wedding flowers & decor inside my digital planning package, The VAULT.  Sign up for a free 3-day trial, and experience what one couple calls "a breath of fresh air in the wedding industry".  >>> wedpodcast.com. Submit show topic requests here, Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking!

"We Ditched the Traditions & Made Our Wedding Truly Personal" - Emma, February 2022 Bride This week on the Wedding Planning Podcast, meet special guest Emma (& Drew) who’s here to share the highlights, unique elements, and planning challenges from their beautiful wedding celebration at Hilton Lake Las Vegas in February 2022.   In this special episode, you'll hear lots more from Emma on: The pros of having NO wedding party Celebrating over a 3-day weekend in their hometown The endless benefits of a very chill wedding day / intentionally left lots of open time & space to relax Their "First Look" - and favorite part of the day! “Last Dance” w/ just the two of us after the room has been cleared Mini after-party at hotel lobby bar, Keeping it early & chill - wrapped everything up by 9:30 pm The challenges of setting a wedding budget and knowing where the starting point is Trying on 50+ dresses before finding “The One” And so much more! For a complete written recap and to see their absolutely gorgeous wedding photos, here's a complete article that features Emma and Drew’s incredible wedding celebration. And to wrap up this week, I would LOVE to hear from you!  Whether it’s about a planning challenge or question you’re facing, a post-wedding day recap that you’d like to share, or simply requests for upcoming show topics, you can send in a voicemail to the show by visiting weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact In your message, please be sure to leave your name and email address so we can reach you for follow up.  I would love to share more stories like Emma’s, but I need your participation, so please make it a priority to be in touch! A special thank you to this week's show sponsors: Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding! This week's show is just the beginning of dozens of strategic recorded meetings that walk you through an ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding.  Sign up for a totally free 3-day trial of my revolutionary digital wedding planning package by visiting www.wedpodcast.com

The cost of food & drinks can be a huge source of frustration when planning your wedding.  I can’t tell you how many messages I get from couples who are utterly horrified by the per person fee for dinner & drinks - and rightfully so!  Today we’re going to explore setting up your own appetizer spread, and I think you’ll be blown away by the savings.   Tune in for my detailed roadmap to menu planning, shopping, and setting it all up. We'll review how much to buy, where to shop, and what you can expect the total price tag to be for TWO different sample menu options. Even if you are using a more traditional caterer for the main meal, doing your own appetizer spread is a wonderful way to customize the offering, UP the quality, AND save a ton of money.  Not allowed to bring outside food into your venue?  This process for setting up a beautiful appetizer spread is also perfect for your bridal shower, welcome party, rehearsal dinner, or any other party you host in the future.  Be sure to bookmark it, and share this episode with a friend who's helping you plan! Thousands of couples have planned simple, meaningful & affordable multi-event wedding celebrations, and you can do it too with LONG WEDDING WEEKEND BY DESIGN, my all new digital wedding planning package specifically for couples who want an incredibly straightforward, complete guide to planning your multi-day wedding from start to finish … with absolutely zero guesswork! Enjoy the full blog post:  www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/cheese Discover endless cocktail hour inspiration!  https://www.pinterest.com/karasvinwedding/wedding-cocktail-hour/ A very special thank you to today's show sponsors: Enjoy a FREE SUIT OR TUXEDO RENTAL for the wedding couple with 5 paid wedding party members at www.generationtux.com FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with Minted Weddings & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more. Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email susan@susanstravelservices.com . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your booking!

Today's BONUS WEDDING Q&A show is designed to show you exactly how to have all the wedding things that are most important to you, regardless of how much money you actually have in the bank.  Sounds pretty amazing, right??? Let's face it, you’re overwhelmed & struggling with your wedding budget if any one, two, or maybe even three of these sound familiar: If you get a pit in your stomach even thinking about your wedding budget (let alone talking about it).    If you’re constantly worried about how much everything is going to cost, and looking for ways to save as much money as possible - or, even worse, you’re sweeping the whole money convo under the rug, trying not to even think about it. You’re wondering how on earth your wedding can live up to the pictures we’re bombarded with on social media and big wedding websites. And if you’re drinking wine with your dog or your cat and in total despair because everything is way more expensive than you ever imagined it would be ... ... then you my friend are a walking case of budget stress and overwhelm, and we can’t have you going through life these next few months shouldering all of that! This level of anxiety not only creates toxic stress in your daily life that’s bad for your physical health, but it’s also going to suck the fun out of your engagement - and it doesn’t have to be that way.   Yes, weddings cost money, but by ignoring your financial situation you’re setting yourselves up to be that couple a year from now who went waaaayyyy over budget, who had to use wedding gift money to pay off credit cards, and who - although they might not admit it to anyone out loud - looks back and realizes that in hindsight, there’s a whole laundry list of things that were completely unnecessary.  (I have a story about this to share, coming up in one of our questions for today.) Living in a place of overwhelm and judging yourself & your wedding decisions against staged photos and strangers on the internet isn’t serving anyone. There are some very powerful shifts that I can offer to lift you up to a place where you confront your wedding budget head on - that’s the convo we had last week on Wednesday, in our Wedding Budget Workshop.  You have the hard conversations, you’ve seen in black and white how much money you’re working with, you commit to your priorities, and then it’s DONE.   And that’s the point where you can move on to a more joyful place where choosing a photographer and a venue and a dress is FUN because you’re not constantly worried about how much it’s gonna cost.  You KNOW you have enough money to cover your top priorities, it doesn’t matter if it’s going to look like the wedding you saw on tik tok this morning.   This is where you can confidently invest in your priorities, tune out and say NO to the stuff that’s not important to you, and you’re not even gonna recognize that girl who was alone and crying with her dog because everything is just too expensive and too overwhelming. It’s time for a NEW WAY to create your dream wedding celebration, where YOU, your values, and your priorities are at the center of every single decision you make from now until your wedding day, & beyond. So let’s say goodbye to unrealistic, staged images on Pinterest of weddings in the forest that cost $32,000 - in decorations alone.  It’s time to tune out overhyped social media accounts that are pushing the $72 billion dollar wedding industry’s agenda.   Here on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we say NO to the wedding industry’s priorities, and we say yes to a more fulfilled engagement season that starts with YOU.   SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS! What's on your mind?  Get your specific questions answered when you sign up for a FREE 3-DAY TRIAL of my revolutionary digital wedding planning package, The VAULT.  Details at www.wedpodcast.com FREE ENGAGEMENT STARTER KIT BONUS SERIES Redeem at allnew.wedding There's an ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding ... ... and you won't find it on any free wedding checklist or generic planning timeline. In the FREE Engagement Starter Kit BONUS SERIES, we unlock exactly how to align your WEDDING PRIORITIES with your PLANNING STRATEGY, so that you can confidently design an unforgettable wedding celebration - minus the crushing stress & overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples. SIGN UP TODAY for this incredibly valuable (totally free!) 4-day wedding planning workshop by visiting allnew.wedding

This week's episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast is a collection of wedding questions & situations submitted by members of my digital wedding planning package​, The VAULT.​ Membership includes the priceless benefit of submitting your wedding questions for feature on these monthly "Ask Me Anything" shows, and this week we're discussing in detail: The particulars of ELOPING Shopping seasonal sales for great deals on wedding stuff (Etsy sales are EVERYWHERE right now!) To airbrush, or not to airbrush? Addressing STD's and invitations, Pricing within a vendor contract, Should we DIY the music? How did you decide when to have children? And, more! Monthly membership to The VAULT also includes a weekly bonus “off the record” chat where we can connect behind-the-scenes, and go deeper into select wedding topics covered in the free weekly shows. Enjoy TWO featured OFF THE RECORD bonus shows when you sign up for a free 3-day trial​ of The VAULT. There are zero contracts, no pre-payments or obligation, and you're free to cancel anytime ... although I certainly hope you'll recognize the value in this revolutionary, ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding, and that we can continue the journey together! Cheers to you & your dream wedding celebration, Kara PS - Thank you for supporting today's show sponsors: Take advantage of FREE honeymoon planning services for your all-inclusive, cruise, or exotic honeymoon AND get $50 off when you book!  Simply email susan@susanstravelservices.com to get started. Check these guys out at Generation Tux and use promo code within today's episode for 10% off the entire groom’s party AND a free groom's tux w/ 5 paid party members. 

This week's episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast is a collection of wedding questions & situations submitted by members of my digital wedding planning package​, The VAULT.​ Membership includes the priceless benefit of submitting your wedding questions for feature on these monthly Q&A shows, and this week we're discussing in detail: Should we bother creating a seating chart? How much alcohol should we buy for 100 guests? Are "drink tickets" rude? Budgeting for dress alterations Details on FREE honeymoon planning services for your all-inclusive, cruise, or exotic honeymoon AND get $50 off when you book!  (Simply email susan@susanstravelservices.com to get started.) Pros to an unplugged ceremony & tips for communicating your expectations to guests And so much more! Monthly membership to The VAULT also includes a weekly bonus “off the record” chat where we can connect behind-the-scenes, and go deeper into select wedding topics covered in the free weekly shows. Enjoy TWO featured OFF THE RECORD bonus shows when you sign up for a free 3-day trial​ of The VAULT. There are zero contracts, no pre-payments or obligation, and you're free to cancel anytime ... although I certainly hope you'll recognize the value in this revolutionary, ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding, and that we can continue the journey together! Cheers to you & your dream wedding celebration, Kara

This week's episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast is a collection of wedding questions & situations submitted by members of my digital wedding planning package​, The VAULT.​ Membership includes the priceless benefit of submitting your wedding questions for feature on these monthly Q&A shows, and this week we're discussing in detail: DIY Invitations - is this really a good way to save money? (If you're interested in HIGHER quality, much MORE for your $$$ and VERY similar end-game pricing, I'd recommend Minted Weddings) Processional - order, traditions, substitutions (detailed article >>> Processional Order) Online bridesmaid dress shopping (including my very recent personal experience & recommendations >>> azazie.com), A brief COVID update, And last but certainly not least, managing disagreeable vendors.​ Monthly membership to The VAULT also includes a weekly bonus “off the record” chat where we can connect behind-the-scenes, and go deeper into select wedding topics covered in the free weekly shows. The latest TWO featured OFF THE RECORD bonus shows are available to you for a sneak peek when you sign up for a free 3-day trial​ of The VAULT. There are zero contracts, no pre-payments or obligation, and you're free to cancel anytime ... although I certainly hope you'll recognize the value in this revolutionary, ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding, and that we can continue the journey together! Cheers to you & your dream wedding celebration, Kara PS - Thank you for supporting this week's show sponsors: Is your happiness suffering in these insanely stressful times?  Connect with your Better Help professional counselor today and save 10% off your first month. Take advantage of FREE honeymoon planning services for your all-inclusive, cruise, or exotic honeymoon AND get $50 off when you book!  Simply email susan@susanstravelservices.com to get started.