Lifting the Veil

Weddings are exciting, but they can also be financially overwhelming—especially if you fall into the trap of being “venue poor.” In this episode, we break down what it means to spend too much on your venue and how it can throw your entire wedding budget off track.

We’ll walk through the numbers, common budgeting mistakes, and what you really need to consider before signing that venue contract. Plus, we’ll share expert tips on how to prioritize your spending, avoid financial regrets, and plan realistically. 

If you’re in the midst of planning or just starting to think about your big day, this episode is a must-listen! Join Kathy & Christina as they jump right into what it means to be "venue poor" and how to avoid it! 

Today's episode dives into the art of healthy arguing and playful banter with your spouse after the wedding day. We're talking about how to navigate disagreements, communicate effectively, fight fair, and be accountable, without letting the little things build up. Whether you're the person that can't seem to get their clothes into the laundry basket, or the one that loads the dishwasher like a psychopath, or even the one that buries everything because you think you're suppose to...we all have our stuff. And if you ever thought you were alone with the (often) dumb arguments you may be having, know that it's completely normally, healthy and we are all pretty much having the same arguments...we're just in different houses. 

Because let’s face it—love isn’t about avoiding arguments, it’s about learning how to have them the right way. Tune in and start Lifting the Veil on normalizing what a "healthy" marriage looks like!

In the busy world of being engaged and wedding planning, it can sometimes be hard to "stay connected" during the planning process. Even as vendors (especially as vendors) we often let work take over our daily lives and forget the important things...including those closest to us. It's important to set aside time to be with your partner, your supporter, your loved ones. After all, that's why we are all here. We fell in love with our soulmate and that relationship needs to be nurture now and always. 

Some of the fun tips Kathy & Christina share: 

• Make an effort to "date" your fiancé, husband/wife, partner
• Plan a date night and do something interactive
• Practice your "kiss, kiss, kiss" 
• Practice your dip, everywhere!
• Write daily love notes or affirmations for each other
• Learn each other's love language

Join us as we talk about the importance of staying connected during your wedding planning and tips for how to do so. 

Oh how weddings have turned into their own living breathing organism over the years. Long gone are the days of the church wedding with the nut, mint, punch fountain reception. Today weddings are intentional curated events. But have they gone too far? Possibly!

In this episode Kathy and Christina discuss the "forgotten intent of the wedding". Rarely are couples focused on "getting married" and more about the "production" of the event. And while that's wonderful to celebrate on such a large scale, have couples forgotten why they are getting married in the first place? 

Join Kathy and Christina as they discuss how to remain focused on what matters and how to leave behind expectations that have been created by what you see online.

Special thanks to @runawayvowseducation for sharing their podcast topic with us!

To view the snippet we referenced, visit:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9fkbDlOkOj/?igsh=MWZjM2J0NzJqcHlzOA%3D%3D

Bridal shows can be overwhelming...especially prior to Covid, they tended to be overly large. Post-Covid, they are a bit smaller but can still be a tad much to navigate through as a bride...even sometimes for a vendor too.

Join Kathy & Christina as they discuss the origination of the Dallas Bridal Show with President, Naomi Butler. Together, we are addressing: 

• How are shows different post-Covid? 
• What shifts did you have to make to ensure the show's ongoing success? 
• How do attendees best benefit now with so much available online through social media? 
• How has social media impacted the show's traffic flow, and how? 
• How can couples get the most out of their time at a show? 
• Top 5 tips/take-a-ways for couples attending a show. 

While online offers an abundance of resources and information, there's nothing like meeting your vendors face-to-face in a one-stop-shop location. Looking to attend the next Dallas Bridal Show, mark your calendar for February 8th-9th!

About Naomi:
Naomi Butler, CEM, a consumer trade show producer for 36 years, helps others build their business through her shows and her Exhibiting 101®️ Workshops.  Naomi is one of 24 Consumer Show Producers globally to have the CEM designation (Certified Exhibition Management).

 As an ongoing metastatic Stage 4 cancer warrior and survivor, fighting for her life multiple times, she inspires audiences by sharing her journey to be Positive, Grateful, and have a Can-Do Mindset, LIVING LIFE FULLY!  Her motto is "Smile Anyway, Why Not?"   

She loves to be with her family: her Sweetheart, her Son and Daughter, three Grandsons, two Granddaughters, and a Sister—family is everything to her!

We are officially in the middle of engagement season and you likely know someone – or maybe you – got engaged recently. If so, you’re in good company. Did you know that The Knot “Real Weddings” Survey shows that 45% of couples get engaged during engagement season? That sweet spot of the year between Thanksgiving and Valentines Day. If you got engaged, or proposed over the holidays, what should you do next? 

1. Enjoy the moment
2. Narrow your wedding priorities
3. Start thinking about your budget
4. Hire a planner
5. Begin reviewing/touring venues
6. Settle on a date
7. Work through the rest of your vendors (tip! hire your photographer next)

Join Kathy & Christina as they "lift the veil" on each of these points, the easiest way to get started, and what to do along the way. 

Every year vendors and leaders throughout the industry come forward with their projections on upcoming wedding trends. This year, we’ve created a comprehensive list of those trends and narrowed down to our top 25. These top 25 trends to note for 2025 include the most common and easy to utilize trends for couples. In no particular order, here are a few to get you going; otherwise, tune in for the full list!

• Serpentine and Caterpillar Tables: What's the difference? How do they work? What do I need to know? 
• Vibrant Colors: 2024 kicked off with color and it's still going strong. No better way to personalize your event than with color. 
• Dramatic Draping: Oooooh, we love this trend! 
• Layered Textures & Fabrics: Super easy to incorporate in your tablescapes.
• Fruits & Vegetables in Centerpieces: Yep you read that right...and we're here for it. 
• Silver as a Metal Accent - Finally silver is back! 
• Intentional Photography
• Content Creators
• Enhanced Guest Experiences 
• and more!!

Tune in and join Kathy and Christina as they chat through all 25, and what you need to know for each. 2025 has fun things in store and we can't wait to share them with you. 

Where did 2024 go? It flew by! Let's do an end-of-the-year recap of our first 11 months of Lifting the Veil. Looking back, we loved sharing our podcast with you, and we are so thankful for everything that the year brought to our businesses, to our families....and to each other.

Specifically speaking our recap words of the year are community and relationships. These are the things that make us stand out in the industry. We truly care about our clients and their whole process. Now, looking into 2025, our words are ascent and success! There are no other options but to ascend into greatness and be successful for ourselves, for our clients, for our team.

In this episode, we'll revisit our favorite memories from 2024, favorite elements and traditions, as well as some things we are definitely ready to leave behind. Tune in while we reminisce, cut up, go off topic and come back. We had fun in 2024 and hoping you'll join us as we continue Lifting the Veil in 2025.

Vendor & bride shoutouts:
@journeyofdoing (former bride)
@gratefulfloraleventdesign (floral design)
@terisfloral (floral design)
@bigcityfarms (beer burrows)
@reighwalker (photography)
@kccloudevents (seating charts & planning)
@a_sav_rocky (former bride)
@mackenziereiterphoto (photography)

Regardless of what time of year you decide to host your event, every good planner will tell you that you need a contingency plan...especially if you plan to host any part of your event outside. 

Texas is notorious for it's fickle weather patterns and since there are only about 2-4 months out of the year that are reliable enough to even be outside for an extended amount of time, it's imperative to make sure there are back-up plans for your plan A. 

In this episode, we'll talk about what you should be thinking about for all four seasons. Advice to take, when to listen to the recommendations of your planner and what can happen if you decide to "throw caution into the wind"...all puns intended. Join us as we lift the veil on the various weather seasons and how they can impact your wedding plans. 

Whether you’re attending your first wedding, hosting a formal dinner, or just trying to figure out which fork to use, etiquette isn’t just about rules—it’s about creating an atmosphere of respect and grace. And let’s face it, we’ve all had those moments where we wonder, ‘Am I doing this right?’

In this episode, we’ll unpack some of the most common, misunderstood, and often unknown etiquette tips, and general manners for attending a hosted or hosting an event. 

• What's a charger? And why do I have three plates stacked on top of each other? 
• What do I do with all the flatware (forks, knives, spoons, etc.) at my seat and what do I start with?
• How to know which glass is yours at your seat.
• Is it okay for me to start eating as soon as I sit down as a guest? 
• When to go to the buffet. 
• Gift giving: yes, you DO need to give or take a gift! 
• Leave the room when asked.
• Get out of the way of the photographer.
• Vendor meals and a quite place for breaks.
• Following the instructions of the planner or the person in charge of the event.

These quick tips are sure to help you feel more confident no matter where you’re seated. And if you're guilty of any of this, no worries! We've all been there and we're here to pay that knowledge forward.