Here to tell Danielle and Sara about the wedding planning process from the perspective of someone who just went through it is newlywed Maggie Pelletier, who married her husband, Joe, in June of 2021. Maggie shares how long it took her to plan her wedding, what her dress shopping experience was like, and how her catering company added to the full experience of the day. As a self-proclaimed “DIY Budget Bride,” Maggie describes the ways she used family and friends as vendors to cut down costs, and encourages other brides to hammer out their budget from the start.

Maggie also offers her thoughts on what she wishes she would have done differently in planning her wedding, including staying organized on her guest count, checking in on the reception before entering, and doing a private “First Look” before the ceremony. She talks about being clear and efficient in the planning process but not sweating the small stuff, balancing your own vision while respecting your parents’ wishes, and hiring excellent vendors to make the most of your special day. Maggie wraps up with her advice about when to leave for your honeymoon, and of course, you’ll hear some truly cringe-worthy wedding horror stories about questionable cake artists and misplaced wedding rings.

Make sure to follow Not Your Pinterest Wedding Podcast on Instagram, where you can ask questions, share stories, and suggest topics for future episodes. You can also check out Danielle’s Floral Design company at RuffledWillow.com, as well as Sara’s gorgeous barn wedding locale at BurdocFarms.com. Thanks for listening!

Episode Highlights:

• Maggie is a newlywed who just married her husband, Joe, in June of 2021
• It took them just over a year to plan their wedding
• Maggie’s dress and catering were big priorities early on
• Maggie recommends talking about your budget from the beginning
• Don’t rush into planning your wedding - soak up your engagement for a week or two  first
• Maggie and Joe used Postable.com to collect address information from guests
• Their biggest challenge was the amount of people to invite
• Remember that not everyone will stay for the reception or drink alcohol 
• Stay organized on your guest count
• Check out the reception before you enter so you can appreciate everything that went into the event
• Consider doing a private “First Look” before you walk down the aisle, so you can truly appreciate the moment before your nerves have set in
• This also carves out some special time for just the two of you
• Having an earlier wedding may also allow for more pictures and less stress
• Try not to sweat the small stuff - if something goes wrong, you probably won’t even notice
• It helps to be organized and efficient in the planning process
• Bringing your own vision to light while also respecting the wishes of your parents
• Maggie used Makenzie Made Films for her videographer and had an exceptional experience
• When deciding on a DJ versus a band, go with your personal preference
• If midnight seems too early to end the event, consider planning an after party
• Wait until Monday to leave for your honeymoon
• Hilarious wedding horror stories
• Remember, when things go wrong, hardly anyone will notice and it will make a fun story for the couple to...