Welcome back to the Nuptial Nonsense podcast, hosted by Valerie. Today, we’re recording at the picturesque Hidden Springs venue in Appison, Tennessee. Originally a summer camp, Hidden Springs has been transformed into a stunning wedding destination featuring a wedding barn and multiple on-site cabins, perfect for multi-day wedding events.

I'm joined by venue owner Julie and marketing coordinator Marissa, who recently started her journey in the wedding industry. Julie shares the venue's story, highlighting the importance of hands-on coordination to ensure seamless wedding experiences, while Marissa reflects on her fresh perspective as a recent bride and offers valuable insights about hiring coordinators and utilizing preferred vendor lists.

We also discuss the crucial role of venue selection and planning, emphasizing communication and support for couples during this exciting time. As we draw closer to the end of our first season, we're celebrating the success of Okan Willow Avent Co., which was recently nominated for North Georgia’s Best of the Best awards.

Join us for an engaging conversation packed with anecdotes, advice, and excitement about the wedding industry, and hear how our team strives to create unforgettable experiences for couples on their special days. Stay tuned for more from Nuptial Nonsense in our upcoming season!

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🌿 Learn More About Our Planning Services: oakandwilloweventco.com

🎥 Produced by: Build Something Media

Follow Oak + Willow Event Co. for Wedding Inspiration!

📍 Oak + Willow Event Co.:

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📸 Instagram: @oakandwilloweventco_

🎥 TikTok: @oak.willow.event

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Welcome back to another episode of Nuptial Nonsense! 🎉 This week, Valerie is joined by Courtney Alexander, a former Oak & Willow bride, to spill the tea on her wedding planning experience, the highs, the lows, and everything in between. If you’re planning a wedding (or just love hearing about them), this episode is packed with real talk, helpful advice, and a few wild moments!

💍 In This Episode:

✅ What It’s Really Like to Plan a Wedding While Moving Twice – Courtney shares her journey of planning a wedding in Chattanooga while living in Knoxville and Georgia (before eventually moving to Chattanooga—by surprise!).

✅ Hiring a Wedding Planner: Why It’s a Must – Courtney breaks down why she chose Oak & Willow and how having a planner allowed her to actually enjoy her wedding day instead of stressing over the details.

✅ Single Life & Marriage: Navigating Expectations – As a trauma-informed life coach for single women, Courtney talks about embracing singleness, setting real standards, and avoiding getting married just for the sake of marriage.

✅ The Vendor Vetting Process: What to Ask & When to Run – The #1 question every bride should ask a past client before booking a vendor: Would you hire them again? Plus, the nightmare experience that left Courtney second-guessing whether one of her vendors would even show up on wedding day.

✅ Favorite Wedding Moments – From walking down the aisle with her dad to an unexpected concert moment with cell phone lights during her first dance, Courtney shares the moments that made her wedding unforgettable.

✅ Vendor Communication is Everything – Valerie and Courtney discuss why consistent communication is key and how ghosting a couple (or their planner) is the quickest way to break trust.

🎙️ Helpful Links & Chattanooga Resources:

🔗 Find the Perfect Wedding Venue → Visit Chattanooga

🔗 Tennessee Marriage License Requirements → TN.gov

🔗 Southside Loft (Rehearsal Dinner Venue Shoutout!) → Southside Chattanooga

🔗 Wedding Planner vs. Venue Coordinator: Know the Difference → Wedding Wire

🎧 Listen Now & Subscribe for New Episodes!

🌿 Learn More About Our Planning Services: oakandwilloweventco.com

🎥 Produced by: Build Something Media

Follow Oak + Willow Event Co. for Wedding Inspiration!

📍 Oak + Willow Event Co.:

🌿 Website: oakandwilloweventco.com

📘 Facebook: Oak + Willow Event Co.

📸 Instagram: @oakandwilloweventco_

🎥 TikTok: @oak.willow.event

🎙️ Nuptial Nonsense Podcast:

📺 YouTube: @nuptialnonsensepodcast

📸 Instagram: @nuptialnonsensepodcast

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Welcome back to another episode of the Nuptial Nonsense Podcast! 🎉 This week, Valerie takes the mic solo while Rilee is called in for a shift at the ER. Instead of diving into family dynamics as planned, this episode tackles frequently asked wedding planning questions—from vendor selection to the wildest wedding stories.

💍 In This Episode:

✅ What Makes a Great Wedding Planner? – Listeners describe the Oak + Willow team as friendly, professional, and connected in the vendor community—but what does that really mean?

✅ How to Stay Calm on Wedding Day – Discover how professional planners handle chaos behind the scenes so you can be the guest of honor, not the host at your wedding.

✅ The Truth About Vendor Relationships – Why collaboration, not competition, is the secret to a thriving Chattanooga wedding community and how planners build their preferred vendor lists.

✅ Same-Sex Couples & Wedding Planning – Valerie addresses a common but unfortunate question: Do you plan weddings for LGBTQ+ couples? (Spoiler: Yes, 100%.)

✅ Do Wedding Vendors Expect Tips? – Get the real answer on which vendors expect gratuities and why tipping a DJ might not be on everyone’s list.

✅ Destination Weddings – Yes or No? – Love the idea of a destination wedding? Hear what goes into planning one and why travel fees are worth it.

✅ The Craziest Wedding Mishaps – From a bridesmaid getting stung by a hornet mid-ceremony to a groomsman brawl with the groom’s mother, Valerie shares unbelievable wedding horror stories.

🎙️ Helpful Links & Chattanooga Resources:

🔗 Explore Chattanooga Wedding Venues → Visit Chattanooga

🔗 Bartender & Alcohol Licensing in TN → Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission

🔗 Local Business & Event Licensing → Chattanooga City Government

🔗 Little Debbie Snacks (Because we love a Chattanooga classic!) → Little Debbie

🔗 HydroFlask (Still waiting on that sponsorship!) → Shop HydroFlask

🎧 Listen Now & Subscribe for More Wedding Wisdom & Lau

🎧 Listen Now & Subscribe for New Episodes!

🌿 Learn More About Our Planning Services: oakandwilloweventco.com

🎥 Produced by: Build Something Media

Follow Oak + Willow Event Co. for Wedding Inspiration!

📍 Oak + Willow Event Co.:

🌿 Website: oakandwilloweventco.com

📘 Facebook: Oak + Willow Event Co.

📸 Instagram: @oakandwilloweventco_

🎥 TikTok: @oak.willow.event

🎙️ Nuptial Nonsense Podcast:

📺 YouTube: @nuptialnonsensepodcast

📸 Instagram: @nuptialnonsensepodcast

Follow Build Something Media for More Creative Content!

🎥 Build Something Media:

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Welcome back to another engaging episode of the Nuptial Nonsense Podcast, powered by Oak + Willow Event Co. 🎉 This week, Valerie and Rilee tackle one of the most critical aspects of wedding planning—vendor selection—and share must-know tips for keeping your wedding budget under control.

💍 In This Episode:

✅ Why Do Some Venues Require Specific Vendors? Learn why venues insist on preferred vendors and how this benefits your big day.

✅ Choosing the Right Vendors – Insights from Valerie’s experience as a venue director on working with reliable vendors who follow regulations, maintain food safety, and ensure seamless service.

✅ Guest List Management & Budgeting Tips – Struggling to keep your guest list under control? Learn why cutting down your list can be the easiest way to manage your budget.

✅ Dessert Bars vs. Wedding Cakes – Are traditional wedding cakes on the way out? Valerie and Rilee break down why dessert bars are a rising trend.

✅ Tipping Wedding Vendors – Who expects a tip, and who doesn’t? Get the real scoop on vendor tipping etiquette.

🎙️ Helpful Links & Chattanooga Resources:

🔗 Oak + Willow Event Co. Wedding Planning Services → oakandwilloweventco.com

🔗 Explore Chattanooga Wedding Venues → Visit Chattanooga

🔗 Local Business & Event Licensing → Chattanooga City Government

🔗 Wedding Cake vs. Dessert Bar Inspiration → Local Chattanooga Bakeries

🔗 Bartender Licensing & Safety Requirements in TN → Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission

📢 Mentioned Products:

🍩 Little Debbie Snacks (Shoutout to Chattanooga’s Own!) → Little Debbie

🧊 HydroFlask → Shop HydroFlask

🎧 Listen Now & Subscribe for New Episodes!

🌿 Learn More About Our Planning Services: oakandwilloweventco.com

🎥 Produced by: Build Something Media

Follow Oak + Willow Event Co. for Wedding Inspiration!

📍 Oak + Willow Event Co.:

🌿 Website: oakandwilloweventco.com

📘 Facebook: Oak + Willow Event Co.

📸 Instagram: @oakandwilloweventco_

🎥 TikTok: @oak.willow.event

🎙️ Nuptial Nonsense Podcast:

📺 YouTube: @nuptialnonsensepodcast

📸 Instagram: @nuptialnonsensepodcast

Follow Build Something Media for More Creative Content!

🎥 Build Something Media:

🌍 Website: buildsomethingmedia.com

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Nuptial Nonsense Podcast | Weddings, Planning Tips, & Family Fun

Welcome to the Nuptial Nonsense Podcast, the go-to wedding podcast for couples, planners, and wedding enthusiasts alike! Brought to you by Oak + Willow Event Co., a premier wedding planning company in Chattanooga, TN, this podcast offers an inside look at the world of weddings—complete with expert insights, hilarious mishaps, and heartwarming moments.

Join Valerie, founder and lead planner at Oak + Willow Event Co., and her co-host, Rilee, her eldest daughter and an ER tech, as they navigate the delightful chaos of wedding planning and family dynamics. Whether you’re planning an intimate ceremony, a grand destination wedding, or a stylish event in Chattanooga, Tennessee, this podcast delivers real wedding wisdom, expert vendor recommendations, and unfiltered conversations about the industry.

🎙️ What You’ll Hear on Nuptial Nonsense:

💍 Wedding Planning Advice – From timelines to décor, we share expert tips for planning your big day.

🌿 Weddings in Chattanooga, TN – Discover the best venues, vendors, and hidden gems for a perfect Chattanooga wedding.

🎉 Real Wedding Stories – Heartwarming and sometimes chaotic tales from behind the scenes.

💡 Vendor Spotlights & Recommendations – Meet the professionals who bring dream weddings to life.

👩‍⚕️ Rilee’s ER Chronicles – Unexpected life lessons from an ER tech who knows a thing or two about handling stress!

😂 Unfiltered & Relatable Conversations – Planning a wedding isn’t always picture-perfect, and we’re here to laugh through the craziness with you!

Whether you’re a bride-to-be, wedding planner, vendor, or just love weddings, the Nuptial Nonsense Podcast is here to entertain, inform, and inspire. Tune in for wedding planning tips, Chattanooga wedding insights, and real talk about making your dream wedding stress-free.

🎧 Listen Now & Subscribe for New Episodes!

🌿 Learn More About Our Planning Services: oakandwilloweventco.com

🎥 Produced by: Build Something Media

Follow Oak + Willow Event Co. for Wedding Inspiration!

📍 Oak + Willow Event Co.:

🌿 Website: oakandwilloweventco.com

📘 Facebook: Oak + Willow Event Co.

📸 Instagram: @oakandwilloweventco_

🎥 TikTok: @oak.willow.event

🎙️ Nuptial Nonsense Podcast:

📺 YouTube: @nuptialnonsensepodcast

📸 Instagram: @nuptialnonsensepodcast

Follow Build Something Media for More Creative Content!

🎥 Build Something Media:

🌍 Website: buildsomethingmedia.com

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