Get Wedded In Wonderland

Planning your wedding budget requires a clear understanding of realistic venue choices before you commit to a date or location. We break down the logistical traps many couples face.

Planning a destination wedding in Greece or Europe? From choosing the right venue and managing international guests to coordinating suppliers, transport, accommodation and cultural traditions, destination wedding planning can become complicated very quickly.

In this episode, Gabriella shares the reality of planning her 400+ guest destination wedding in Corfu, Greece, including receiving a $100,000 venue-only quote in Italy, navigating Greek Orthodox wedding requirements and coordinating guests travelling from Australia, Egypt, Holland and the United States.

Gabriella originally dreamed of an Italian destination wedding after seeing celebrations in Tuscany and Lake Como. But venue costs, logistics and the challenge of finding a Greek Orthodox church eventually led her to Corfu,  where she could bring together her partner's Greek heritage, a villa-style celebration and a multi-day wedding experience.

She also shares how working with Wedded Concierge changed the planning process, from finding and connecting with trusted wedding professionals to negotiating, managing logistics, coordinating entertainment, accommodation and international guest travel.

One detail could have changed the entire wedding: Gabriella discovered through Wedded Concierge that Greek Orthodox churches would be closed during the period she had originally considered due to Greek fasting traditions,  something she says she may not have discovered until after locking in the venue and suppliers.

IN THIS EPISODE
- Why Gabriella chose a destination wedding
- Italy vs Greece for a European destination wedding
- The reality of destination wedding venue pricing
- What isn't included when you hire some European wedding venues
- Why Gabriella chose Corfu
- Planning a Greek Orthodox destination wedding
- Managing a 400+ person international guest list
- Destination wedding flights, accommodation and transfers
- Wedding planner vs wedding concierge
- Finding trusted destination wedding vendors
- Planning a multi-day wedding experience
- What couples should know before booking a destination wedding

Timestamps

00:00 – The $100,000 Wedding Quote
00:30 – The Reality of Planning a Destination Wedding
00:51 – Gabriella’s Engagement Story
02:26 – Why We Chose a Destination Wedding
03:31 – Why Corfu, Greece?
04:25 – The Hidden Costs of Destination Weddings
05:38 – What No One Tells You About Planning Overseas
07:06 – How Gabriella Found Wedded Concierge
07:43 – Finding the Right Destination Wedding Support
08:53 – Planning With Wedded Concierge
10:16 – What Does a Wedding Concierge Actually Do?
11:15 – The Detail That Could Have Changed the Wedding Date
12:21 – Wedding Planner vs Wedding Concierge
13:00 – Finding the Right Destination Wedding Vendors
14:10 – Choosing Steven Khalil for the Wedding Dress
15:11 – Should You Have a Destination Wedding?
15:44 – Is a Wedding Concierge Worth It?
16:31 – Coordinating Travel for 400+ Wedding Guests
17:38 – Accommodation, Transfers & Guest Experiences
18:27 – What Destination Wedding Planning Really Takes

PLANNING A DESTINATION WEDDING?

Wedded Concierge helps couples navigate the details behind destination celebrations, from destinations and venues to trusted wedding professionals, guest travel, accommodation and experiences.

Start planning your destination wedding with Wedded Concierge:
https://bit.ly/4zSbSt6

Follow Wedded Wonderland for destination wedding advice, real wedding stories and access to the people and places shaping celebrations around the world.

Follow Wedded Wonderland:
Website: https://weddedwonderland.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weddedwonderland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wedded.wonderland 

Welcome back to Get Wedded in Wonderland, where Wendy El-Khoury speaks with the planners, designers and industry experts shaping luxury weddings and destination celebrations.

In this episode, Wendy is joined by Ananya Chawla, Marketing and Partnerships Executive at Wedded Wonderland, to explore the culture and traditions behind modern Indian weddings from why diaspora and cross-cultural couples are choosing India, to multi-day celebrations, guest experience, wedding etiquette and the rituals that make an Indian wedding so distinctive.

They also unpack how a new generation is putting its own stamp on tradition, plus the world of arranged and love marriages, matchmaking and astrology in India.

In This Episode

• Why India is becoming one of the biggest destinations for luxury weddings
• Why Gen Z and the Indian diaspora are choosing to get married back in India
• The culture, authenticity and value behind the rise of Indian destination weddings
• Why India can make large-scale weddings easier to plan and execute
• From Rajasthan palaces to Goa beaches: the best wedding destinations across India
• Why Mumbai and Delhi aren’t always the first choice for destination weddings
• How the scale of the Ambani wedding compares with a traditional destination wedding
• How auspicious dates influence when Indian couples get married
• The best seasons for weddings in Rajasthan, Goa and across India

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome: Getting Wedded in India
 01:08 – Why Couples Are Choosing India for Destination Weddings
 02:28 – The Value & Convenience of an Indian Wedding
 03:28 – Travel, Visas & the International Guest Experience
 04:41 – India’s Most Popular Wedding Destinations
 05:53 – Mumbai & Delhi vs Destination Wedding Locations
 06:45 – The Ambani Wedding & the Scale of Indian Weddings
 07:37 – Auspicious Wedding Dates & Seasonality in India
 08:38 – When Is the Best Time to Get Married in India?

Connect with Wendy El-Khoury

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendy_elkhoury

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-daoud-el-khoury-8614564b/

Follow Wedded Wonderland

Website: https://weddedwonderland.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weddedwonderland/

Discover the exceptional wedding professionals and venues featured throughout Wedded World and across the Wedded Wonderland community.

Explore our curated directory:

Vendors: https://weddedwonderland.com/search?t...

Venues: https://weddedwonderland.com/search?t…

Follow Wedded Wonderland:
Website: https://weddedwonderland.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weddedwonderland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wedded.wonderland 

Luxury weddings aren’t just about beautiful styling, they’re about expert planning, trusted suppliers and making hundreds of decisions before the celebration even begins.

Welcome back to Get Wedded in Wonderland, where Wendy El-Khoury speaks with the planners, designers and industry leaders shaping luxury weddings and destination celebrations.
In this episode, Wendy is joined by Mandi Turner, founder of Ivy & Bleu, to discuss luxury wedding planning, realistic budgets, trusted suppliers and the logistics behind multi-day and destination weddings.
They also explore hotel wedding trends, social media overwhelm, wedding privacy, industry commissions and why the right planner can make the entire experience feel seamless.

In this episode: 
- Mandi Turner’s journey from stylist and florist to founder of Ivy Bleu
- Why hotel weddings and multi-day celebrations are rising again
- How planners turn social media inspiration into a realistic wedding vision
- Why destination weddings are driven by logistics, not just aesthetics
- The importance of consultations, transparent pricing and trusted suppliers
- Commissions, kickbacks and transparency in the wedding industry
- Why the right planner can remove stress before couples even notice a problem
- Mandi’s Wedded World experience and the value of industry community

Timestamps
00:00 Meet Mandi Turner and the Story Behind Ivy Bleu
02:29 Why Hotel Weddings and After-Parties Are Returning
05:01 Multi-Day Weddings, Cultural Celebrations and Creating Unforgettable Guest Experiences
08:23 Turning Thousands of Saved Images Into One Wedding Vision
09:25 Why Destination Weddings Are Mostly Logistics
11:18 Consultations, Wedding Budgets and Realistic Expectations
19:06 Trust, Social Media and Choosing the Right Wedding Team
26:35 Wedding Privacy, NDAs, Commissions and Kickbacks
29:20 How Wedded Wonderland Helps Couples Find Trusted Wedding Professionals
31:36 Transparency, Commissions and Choosing the Right Vendors
36:15 What Great Planners Handle Behind the Scenes and Mandi’s Wedded World Experience

CONNECT & FOLLOW
Connect with Wendy El-Khoury
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendy_elkhoury
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-daoud-el-khoury-8614564b/

Follow Wedded Wonderland
Website: https://weddedwonderland.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weddedwonderland/

Connect with Mandi Turner & Ivy Bleu
Website: https://ivyandbleu.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivybleu.com.au/

Subscribe for more conversations with global wedding professionals, founders, creators and industry leaders.

PLANNING YOUR CELEBRATION?
Discover the exceptional wedding professionals and venues featured throughout Wedded World and across the Wedded Wonderland community.

Explore our curated directory:
Directory
Vendors: https://weddedwonderland.com/search?t... 
Venues: https://weddedwonderland.com/search?t… 

Follow Wedded Wonderland:
Website: https://weddedwonderland.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weddedwonderland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wedded.wonderland 

Your Wedding Is Just the Beginning | How Wedded Concierge Supports Every Life Milestone

Welcome back to Get Wedded in Wonderland, where we sit down with the people shaping the wedding, luxury events and lifestyle industries.
In this episode, Wendy El-Khoury is joined by television presenter, model and longtime friend of Wedded Wonderland, Erin Holland.

After working together on Erin's wedding during COVID, the conversation comes full circle as Wedded Concierge helps bring her baby shower to life following a five-year fertility journey.

Together they discuss weddings, IVF, motherhood, trusting creatives, planning milestone celebrations, and why life's biggest moments deserve to be celebrated.

In this episode:

-Erin's five-year fertility journey
-Planning a baby shower after IVF
-Erin Holland's journey from bride to motherhood 
-Why luxury celebrations don't end with the wedding 
-Why milestone celebrations matter
-How Wedded Concierge removes the stress of planning 
-Why trusting the right team changes everything
-Why trust is everything
-From weddings to baby showers, birthdays and beyond

Timestamps:
00:00 Your wedding is just the beginning
01:01 Erin Holland's Wedded Wonderland journey
03:23 From wedding to baby shower
05:28 Why Wedded Concierge exists
06:43 Planning life's biggest milestones
08:36 How trust removes the stress
10:17 Why celebrations matter
12:23 Let creatives do what they do best
13:23 Social media pressure around weddings
16:12 Planning with inspiration vs reality
18:44 Budgeting for milestone celebrations
21:56 Creating unforgettable guest experiences
23:20 Erin's journey to motherhood
27:02 One world. Infinite celebrations.

Connect with Erin Holland
Instagram:
 https://www.instagram.com/erinvholland/

Connect with Wendy El-Khoury
Instagram:
 https://www.instagram.com/wendy_elkhoury

LinkedIn:
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-daoud-el-khoury-8614564b/

Follow Wedded Wonderland
Website:
 https://weddedwonderland.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/weddedwonderland/

Subscribe for more conversations with global wedding professionals, founders, creators and industry leaders.

Planning Your Celebration?

Discover the exceptional wedding professionals and venues featured throughout Wedded World and across the Wedded Wonderland community.

Explore our curated directory:

Vendors: https://weddedwonderland.com/search?tab=vendors

Venues: https://weddedwonderland.com/search?tab=venues

Follow Wedded Wonderland:
Website: https://weddedwonderland.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weddedwonderland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wedded.wonderland 

Welcome to another episode of Get Wedded in Wonderland, where we sit down with the people shaping the future of weddings.

Choosing an engagement ring is about so much more than diamonds.

In this episode, Wendy El-Khoury sits down with Lisa, co-founder of Amare Jewellery, to explore what couples should really consider before purchasing one of the most meaningful pieces they'll ever own.

From lab-grown vs natural diamonds and ethical sourcing to custom design, proposals, and creating jewellery with intention, this conversation is filled with practical advice and heartfelt insights for modern couples.

In this episode:

• How to choose the right engagement ring
• Lab-grown vs natural diamonds
• Why every couple should ask "What's important to you?"
• Designing custom engagement rings
• Proposal trends in 2026
• Why connection matters more than transactions
• The emotional power of jewellery
• Lisa's inspiring personal story and how it shaped Amare Jewellery

00:00 Why engagement rings are more than jewellery

00:46 Meet Lisa from Amare Jewellery

01:32 The love story behind Amare

04:12 How custom engagement rings are created

06:40 Lab-grown vs natural diamonds

08:35 The biggest mistake couples make

10:05 Why asking "What's important to you?" changes everything

11:30 Why practice rings are a brilliant idea

14:30 Timeless jewellery vs trends

20:35 How much should an engagement ring cost?

24:45 Why education matters when buying jewellery

26:15 Proposal trends and modern couples

29:55 Lisa's inspiring personal journey

39:45 Building a business with purpose

Follow Wedded Wonderland

Website: https://weddedwonderland.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weddedwonderland/

Subscribe for more conversations with the world's leading wedding professionals.

Connect with Wendy El-Khoury

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendy_elkhoury

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-daoud-el-khoury-8614564b/

Explore Amaree Jewellery

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amareejewellery/

Website: https://amaree.com.au/

Looking for your dream wedding vendor? Visit Wedded Wonderland,  the world's leading luxury wedding platform guiding couples worldwide, wherever love takes them.

Subscribe & hit the bell so you never miss an episode!

 #CustomEngagementRing #LabGrownDiamond #BespokeJewellery #EthicalJewellery #EngagementRing #WeddingJewellery #AmariJewellery #WeddedWonderland #WeddingPodcast #LuxuryWedding #EngagementRingGuide #CustomWeddingRing 

Follow Wedded Wonderland:
Website: https://weddedwonderland.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weddedwonderland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wedded.wonderland 

In our final individual feature of the series, we sit down with Tamara Schindler and Tiziana Gouveia, the visionary co-founders of Gaea Design.
This conversation explores the evolution of Swiss wedding aesthetics. Tamara and Tiziana share their expertise on blending modern, editorial design with the historic grandeur of Swiss venues, the importance of seasonal floral curation, and how they transform traditional spaces into contemporary masterpieces for the modern luxury bride.

Plan your Swiss destination wedding and access our premier vendor directory here: https://weddedwonderland.com/destinations/europe/switzerland
This series is proudly produced in partnership with the Switzerland Tourism Board.
Shot at The Dolder Grand https://www.instagram.com/thedoldergrand/
Directed & Filmed by Emma Wilson, Story of Your Day https://www.instagram.com/storyofyourday/

Follow Wedded Wonderland:
Website: https://weddedwonderland.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weddedwonderland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wedded.wonderland 

In this interview, we speak with luxury wedding planner Gianna Grieco, founder of The W. Day.

Gianna shares her philosophy on creating deeply custom, bespoke wedding experiences that defy convention. From coordinating grand, dramatic arrivals across the Swiss landscapes to meticulously tailoring aesthetics that reflect a couple's unique journey, discover how she utilizes the versatility of Switzerland's premier venues to craft unmatched celebrations.

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Explore curated destination inspiration and start planning your destination wedding via our Swiss hub: https://weddedwonderland.com/destinations/europe/switzerland

This series is proudly produced in partnership with the Switzerland Tourism Board.

Shot at The Dolder Grand https://www.instagram.com/thedoldergrand/

Directed & Filmed by Emma Wilson, Story of Your Day https://www.instagram.com/storyofyourday/

Follow Wedded Wonderland:
Website: https://weddedwonderland.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weddedwonderland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wedded.wonderland 

Join us for an in-depth conversation with international luxury planner Tehiya Narvel of Tehiya Narvel Events.

Tehiya unravels the complexities, vendor curation, and high-stakes execution strategies behind managing grand-scale, multi-day destination weddings. From balancing high-end production infrastructure with elite guest hospitality to navigating complex logistics across Switzerland's most private and exclusive regions, learn how her team delivers flawless experiential events for global clientele.

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Access exclusive destination resources, regional guides, and a directory of premier Swiss vendors: https://weddedwonderland.com/destinations/europe/switzerland

This series is proudly produced in partnership with the Switzerland Tourism Board.

Shot at The Dolder Grand https://www.instagram.com/thedoldergrand/

Directed & Filmed by Emma Wilson, Story of Your Day https://www.instagram.com/storyofyourday/

Follow Wedded Wonderland:
Website: https://weddedwonderland.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weddedwonderland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wedded.wonderland 

Join us for an insightful conversation with luxury wedding planner Sara Mazzei of Sara Mazzei Event Creation, filmed on location at The Dolder Grand in Zurich.

Sara discusses her signature approach to high-end event design, the nuances of managing international client expectations, and her process for curating deeply personal, unforgettable experiences across Switzerland's most exclusive regions. Learn how she bridges the gap between intricate design concepts and flawless on-the-ground execution for global destination weddings.

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Explore our curated Switzerland guides: https://weddedwonderland.com/destinations/europe/switzerland

This series is proudly produced in partnership with the Switzerland Tourism Board.

Shot at The Dolder Grand https://www.instagram.com/thedoldergrand/

Directed & Filmed by Emma Wilson, Story of Your Day https://www.instagram.com/storyofyourday/

Follow Wedded Wonderland:
Website: https://weddedwonderland.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weddedwonderland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wedded.wonderland 

In this episode of our Swiss interview series, we sit down with Emma Wilson, the creative force behind Story of Your Day.

Beyond directing and filming this very series at The Dolder Grand, Emma shares her unparalleled expertise on capturing destination weddings through a cinematic, editorial lens. She details how Switzerland's unique lighting, dramatic geography, and romantic alpine backdrops elevate wedding cinematography, turning deeply personal family legacies into timeless moving art.

Plan your luxury Swiss destination wedding and source premier vendor networks here: https://weddedwonderland.com/destinations/europe/switzerland

This series is proudly produced in partnership with the Switzerland Tourism Board.

Shot at The Dolder Grand https://www.instagram.com/thedoldergrand/
Directed & Filmed by Emma Wilson, Story of Your Day https://www.instagram.com/storyofyourday/

Follow Wedded Wonderland:
Website: https://weddedwonderland.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weddedwonderland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wedded.wonderland