Let's Talk About Weddings

This week we had the honor of sitting down with the incredibly talented and fun Chloe Jackson of Creating Joyful Moments. Chloe and her team work with couples all across the country to create the perfect plan for their wedding day and help them execute that plan every time!

Her presence and gift of story telling made it such a joy to interview her. She even shares what it's like to be married to Michael Jackson! The wisdom she offers every couple is invaluable. We can't thank her enough!

Here are a few of the pieces of advice she shares:
-Incorporate important elements of your love story into the details of your day- either through decor, a special song, a special moment or a guest gift. Invite your guests into something unique about your love story.
-Something will probably go wrong. It's ok! Let your vendor team problem solve for you.
-Schedule in private moments throughout the wedding day. Enjoy and protect those moments!
-Know your budget and stick to it!

Chloe's teaming is currently booking for 2023! If you're in need of a planner and/or coordinator, you can find her at CJMweddings.com!

Thanks for listening!

For this episode we had the honor of sitting down with our long time friends, Mark and Gloria Miller. Mark was our boss for a time at The Creek, he officiated our wedding and he did our premarital counseling. 

Mark and Gloria have been married over 40 years and have a tremendous amount of life experience from their own relationship, as parents, grandparents and through being in ministry together 30+ years. They've helped countless couples at all different stages of life and marriage. 
We could've talked with them for hours on end hearing their stories and wisdom. This conversation was refreshing for our marriage and we hope it will be for you as well!

Here's some of their main points to consider:
-Pray together- start this habit as early as possible.
-If you're going through a hard season, stick it out. Life moves quick and you'll get through it together.
-Know your role in the relationship- who's going to do what? This is an important question to consider as we all come into relationship with different ideas, expectations and family experience. 
-Talk about finances early. Talk about credit scores, debt, are you a spender/saver, do you have a budget. It's awkward. It's far from fun, but it is critical.
-What does a unified front look like and what does it mean to "leave your father and mother."
-Find things to do together in every season. Mark recommends Pickle Ball, Gloria doesn't recommend Nascar, but find things you love to do together.

We can't thank them enough! If this episode was helpful to you, check out ways you can support the mission Mark works for spreading the Gospel across India, Central India Christian Mission (indiamission.org)

Thanks for listening!

If you want to take another step in your relationship, check out some of the amazing products at CultivateWhatMatters.com. Use promo code 6thdayfilms to save 10% off your order!

On this episode, we had the privilege of chatting with one of our past 6th Day couples and asked them what advice they'd give to our listeners! This is our first time to interview a 6th day couple and our first zoom interview! We love the possibilities that opens up!

Carl and Ashley brought so much wisdom and great insights as a couple that planned their wedding last year! If you too are a "Corona Love Story", very busy with life, work, moving, running a business, Type A personalities or entrepreneurs, you're going to relate well to this episode and learn from these two!

Here are a few highlights of the advice they gave:

-Technology is your friend! From online RSVPs to Facebook community groups, use technology to streamline the process of planning your wedding.
-Hire AND listen to your wedding planner! There's a reason for the checklists and timelines! Trust them!
-Keep in mind the time of year your getting married when thinking through practical things to make your day a little better. For example, if it's hot- maybe turn the program into a fan or increase your open bar tab to accommodate for your guests trying to beat the heat.

Outside of being an awesome couple, Carl and Ashley run some amazing businesses! If you'd like to work with them, check out their websites below:

ceruleanconsultinggroup.com
objectsofessence.com

Thanks again to our friends for sitting down with us a providing this practical and incredibly helpful advice!

This week Sarah and I got some free couples coaching with Janelle DeWolf of B23 Strategies. Her knowledge and expertise of the enneagram was next level and we are so grateful she spent some time with us.
If you are interested in scratching the surface to understand the enneagram, you're going to want to give this podcast a listen!

Here are some of the resources she mentioned:

The Recommended Test: https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/rheti
Recommended Podcasts: "Typology" by Ian Morgan Cron, "The Enneagram Journey" with Suzanne Stabile
Books: "The Road Back to You" by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, "Becoming Us" by Jeff and Beth McCord

If you'd like to take it a step further and get coaching from Janelle and her team, check out their website at b23strategies.com

Lisa is truly one of a kind! She was such a joy to interview! We can't wait for you to hear this episode!

Her advice to young couples:

-Book your vendors now! Yesterday if it where possible! Vendor calendars are filling up fast as more and more people are trying to get married faster coming out of the pandemic.
-Let your family be your family at your wedding. She has experience breaking this advice as she did the flowers for her daughters' weddings. This led her to missing a big moment of her daughter's wedding day, a moment she can't get back.
-Don't sweat the small stuff.
-Get to know one another's family. This is critical to better understanding your partner and ensuring a successful marriage.

Lisa's story and journey is absolutely incredible. We hope you enjoy this conversation!

If you're in need of a florist for your day, find her on social media @WherePigsFlyandSuchor her website wherepigsflyandsuch.com!

Lisa thank you again!!

This week we had the honor of sitting down with our good friend, Lindley Wilson. She is a woman of many talents but she stands out as an amazing photographer. It was such a joy to hear more of her story and her passion for helping couples truly enjoy and embrace their wedding day!

Here's her advice below!

1. Enjoy this season of engagement 
2. Pick the top three things you really want to invest in for your wedding day
3. Create a wedding day timeline- you won't regret it, I promise
4. Have a few point people for your wedding day that can be there to field questions and anything else that may come up (wedding coordinator, maid of honor, close family friend, etc.). This frees you up from having to worry about that and allows you to be more present on your big day.
5. Communicate with and seek out advice from your vendors. They are a wealth of knowledge and want to help you in the process!
6. Find a few moments in your wedding day to step away and be alone with your new spouse!

If you're in need of a photographer, check out Lindley's style at imagerybylindley.com or her instagram @imagerybylindley

We haven't laughed this hard in a long time. It was an absolute blast to chat with Adrienne Love, the owner of the Wedding Studio. She a long time friend of Sarah's and brings an incredible amount of laughs, joy, impressions, stories and wisdom wherever she goes. We could've talked to her for hours! We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!

Here's the break down of her advice:
1. God first. Before each other. 
2. Spend time talking about your dreams, desires, goals and what you’ve always thought marriage would be before walking down the aisle. 
3. Share your money from the start. 
4. Be spontaneous every now and then. Nothing fancy just bring a little fun to your daily routine every now and then. 
5. Go in vacation alone once a year. 
6. Don’t be a jerk when fighting. No name calling. No bringing up last mistakes. Just tell the truth and be gracious and forgiving when your spouse makes mistakes.

If you are in need of a wedding dress, check out their website theweddingstudios.net or stop by one of their four locations!

It was an absolute joy to hang out with our good friends, Joel and Holli of White Willow Farms, and talk with them about weddings!

Joel and Holli have an incredible story of faith, hope and trust that lead them to creating White Willow Farms and the joy that has followed out of that season as they get to be a part of so many "best day ever(s)"!

Here's the advice they would give to all engaged couples:

1. Ask all the questions you need to. Good pros will welcome questions and be helpful in answering and helping you figure it.
2. Once you've asked all the questions and and verify that they do good work, you now have some trust which is good.  Now trust their recommendations on what works well and what doesn't.  This reduces stress greatly.
3. Play the movie forward, and think about how you want certain things or moments to "feel" before you make decisions on what to "do". This helps shape the kind of special occasion toward what your heart is wanting, rather than what others think.
4. Get clear on the most important things for the day.  At the end of the wedding day, what are the most important events that need to happen, and who are the most important people/relationships that need to be involved besides you two?  And how are you two going to stay connected in a socially intense evening where you're the center of the attention?
5. Have the tough conversations.  Remove people and things that distract from the main thing(s), and explain why.  Do it sooner than later.  You'll be glad you did!
6. In the many months preceding, don't let all the conversations be about logistics and planning.  I recommend the man initiate this for extra points, but either may do this.  Initiate private conversations, dates, etc. where you talk about your relationship, what values you share, what dreams you have, what are your deal breakers, what are your must haves, and what are the foundational principles that you can draw on, besides "we love each other"?  

If you want to have your best day ever at White Willow, check out their website whitewillowfarms.com and book a tour to see the place in person!

This week we got to sit down with Jessica Limeberry, the owner of Sophia's Bridal and Tux! She is an absolute joy to talk with and she brought amazing perspective as she married her high school sweetheart, spent years as a wedding photographer and now owns a bridal shop. 
Bride's if you are still need to find the perfect dress, you're going to want to hear all the Jessica has to say! Oh and she's hilarious, so that's an added bonus!

1.  Take a breath and figure out your priorities.  
2.  Know that at the end of the day, you'll be married - and no one will notice the little things that are missing or go wrong.
3.  Focus on the marriage, not the wedding.  
4.  Do counseling - before there is a problem.  Just having a 3rd party person to help you navigate and open communication is so powerful.
5.  Do at least one thing that just you guys want.  Sometimes you can get lots of outside influence at the wedding planning, so figure out the one thing that you care the most about, and make sure it happens!
6. Don't feel pressure to entertain everyone at the reception - enjoy it but remember that it is about you and your spouse, and that is most important!
7.  Have fun!

Want to get in touch with Jessica and her team? You can stop by and see them at one of their four locations, head to their website sophiasbridalandtux.com, or find them on social media @sophiasbridalandtux.

Have a great day and happy planning!

It was an honor to sit down with our friend, Raegan Waite of Clay House Photography.

She brings some absolutely incredible wisdom and a ton of fun wherever she goes! We are so grateful she sat down with us to share her advice for all couple's planning a wedding!

Here are her pieces of advice:

1. Prepare more for your marriage than your wedding (consider premarital counseling).
2. Embrace the season of being engaged. It goes quick and can be a really sweet time of life.
3. Hire vendors that you trust AND that you like! You're going to be with them the entire wedding day. Their personality will impact the vibe of the day. Make sure they are a good fit for you.
4. Have fun! Whatever that means to you. Make it a fun day for you and your partner. Don't let stress, traditions or other's expectations cause you to wish your day away.
5.  Invite people to your wedding that you know are FOR you. Surround yourself with people that you know will love you and walk with you throughout the next season of life.
6. Create an email account specifically for wedding planning that you and your fiancé can share.

If you are in need of an awesome photographer, reach out to Raegan! You can contact her at clayhousephoto.com or find her on instagram @clayhousephoto!

Raegan, thank you again! 
Thanks for listening!