Big Takeaways

Special dances, toasts, thoughtfully selected song choices… Do you want to toss a bouquet? Should that be done before or after the cake cutting? Let’s figure this out!

In Part 1, it was the frame and now, in this episode, we start to add some color - some fun - some personality - to the timeline. We dive into what we refer to as the MICRO EVENTS - the part of the wedding that make your day all about you.

Here is the list of MICRO EVENTS that we review and dissect:

How long do each of these micro events typically take? What is the order of these events? Remember - there are no rules for weddings anymore - it’s all a suggestion. Enlist the advice of the professionals you hire as your vendor team.

Think about other weddings you have been to as a guest. What did you like? What did you think was boring, or didn’t work logistically? Think about what is important to you and your partner and do your thing!

Announcements help guide the party - the DJ or Emcee facilitates the order of events. You are the one that gives your DJ the order of events and he/she should work from your timeline. Confirm this with him (or her) the week before the wedding!

Don’t forget to keep some buffer time in your timeline - allot 5 minutes per toast, and 5 minutes for each special dance, even if you don’t think they will take this long.

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Links we referenced

none

Quotes

“A good timeline will inform your vendor team, and your wedding party, and your parents, and anybody that asks you a random-ass question the week of the wedding...like your cousin who just can’t figure out when the shuttle arrives at the hotel.” - Christy, on the virtues of a good f-ing timeline

“I love wedding dancing. As we get older, weddings are the only place we can dance in a crowd of people. I don’t go out to ‘da clubs’ anymore.” - Christy

“I do! I went to the Castro last weekend and danced.” - Michelle

“Good for you.” - Christy

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The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is…

Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez 

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Big Takeaways

Spreadsheets. Live them, love them. Don’t fight them! We break down our basic techniques for drafting your initial wedding day timeline - the rows, the columns, the hints and tricks. Rome wasn’t built in a day, people! The Wedding Day Timeline takes time...little by little, it all comes together....in a spreadsheet. :)

Who, what, when, where...getting all this info into a timeline makes it really easy for you to answer questions that your vendors will ask you the weeks leading up to the wedding. You’ve already done the work - now you can systematically pass it on.

The first thing to input into your timeline is the basic MAIN EVENTS - these frame out the entire thing, and you plug everything else in around these events. Ceremony, Cocktail Hour, Reception, Last Dance. Boom.

You will put together a vendor team and they should be able to help you create this timeline. If you have any questions about how long something usually takes, or what a ‘typical’ order is - ask your vendors.

Enter in arrival times as you figure them out. When/where is the wedding party arriving? The parents? Guests? Vendor arrival times will probably be entered later in the planning process, as you work out the details with them. Sometimes the exact times for vendors aren’t set in stone until a few weeks before the wedding.

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Links we referenced

none

Quotes

“Excel sorta turns you on a little bit. All those boxes just waiting to be filled with formulas...so hot.” - Christy, while Michelle sexily whispers yes-yes-yes in the background

“I’ll be honest. As I get older, I have been known to throw out a 1000 piece puzzle on the dining room table.” - Michelle. “I can’t not believe you do puzzles!” - Christy

“You got this. You can handle this. Keep it simple. On wedding days, people tend to pull it together. Everyone is working for the greater good on the wedding day and that is YOU and your fiance and your giant life event. Weddings magically come together.” - Christy and her timeline pep talk

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The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is…

Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez 

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The way to a wedding guest’s heart is through their stomach. The reception typically makes up 50-60% of your overall wedding budget. Let’s talk about how that money gets spent on food!

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Big Take Aways

Links we referenced

Paula Le Duc Fine Caterting Catering http://www.paulaleduc.com

Episode Quotes

“We strongly discourage, as wedding planners, having any sort of DIY when it comes to catering…Like my aunt makes tamales in her kitchen and they’re really amazing” “She really does.” -Christy and Michelle on Auntie’s tamales and how they shouldn’t be your wedding reception meal. Catering a wedding is far different than your family feasts.

“I feel like a buffet is more successful if you have a high guest count, because the food is hot.” -Christy, who wants her steak rare and her mashed-potatoes hot please

“We get a lot of questions about how to save money, and we can’t tell you how to save money unless you tell us how important the food is to you!” –Christy

“Let’s eat real quick, give them some energy, some nutrition, some nourishment, and let’s party.” –Michelle, on priorities!

“You can’t eat and talk at the same time! You want to make sure your lipstick looks good.” –Michelle, truth. (We encourage you, as the couple getting married, to EAT at your wedding reception.)

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The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is…

Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez 

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When wedding planners put down the clipboard and join the wedding party! Christy is moonlighting as MAID OF HONOR for her best friend and it’s weird to be on the other side of things. In this episode, Michelle and Christy talk MOH duties, dresses, and standing up for your girl when you don’t live anywhere near her.

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Big Takeaways

Links we referenced

Maid of Honor duties...here are some good blog posts about it:

The Knot Maid of Honor Duties in Detail

Wedding Paper Divas - MOH Duties Befor, During & After The Ceremony

Dessy Group - online shop for bridesmaids dresses

Quotes

Get In Touch

The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is…

Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez 

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You are going to LOVE cake celebrity Lauren Kitchens! If you heard our Pilot episode and the mention of "fake" wedding cakes, you're going to want to listen to this one. Lauren is the owner of Fancy Cakes by Lauren, in Dallas Texas. Lauren has been featured on the Food Network several times and happens to be a dear friend of Christy's.

In this episode, Lauren and Christy talk about the ins and outs of wedding cakes, how to find the baker you want to work with, how much you can expect to spend, logistics of cutting the cake and why cakes remain an important part of the wedding day.

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Big Takeaways

Listen in as Christy & Lauren sit down in the 'recording studio' (aka Christy's Master Bedroom closet) and talk about the world of wedding cakes. Lauren has been baking cakes professionally for over 10 years.

Being on TV isn’t necessarily the height of your career. Building a business that prioritizes the client experience and values quality over quantity is far more successful in the long run. Lauren Kitchens proves that every day with Fancy Cakes.

Grooms Cakes! Dude, where’s my cake? Grooms Cakes in the South -- a tradition that is not going anywhere. From simple chocolate cakes with chocolate covered strawberries (how retro!) to cake sculptures of bass fish and college football stadiums...the Grooms Cakes are here to stay and in Lauren’s world, they are getting more and more over the top - even costing more than the extravagant wedding cake in many instances. Check out her Instagram page to see these works of art!

Fake Cakes. Or fake tiers. It’s a thing, deal with it. Sometimes a fake cake is necessary when the design of the cake can’t be supported by good old fashioned flour and water. Sometimes a fake tier is necessary to support the weight of 200 orchids stabbed into it by a florist. Sometimes Lauren makes wedding cakes that are 6’ tall and all fake. She’s an artist, I tell you! An artist!

Links we referenced

Quotes

Get In Touch

The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is…

Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez 

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So….who is supposed to give a toast at your wedding? What are the rules? Are there rules? In this episode, Christy and Michelle discuss the toasts, which by the way is Christy’s very favorite part of a wedding. #maketoastsgreatagain

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Big Takeaways

Typically, you have a welcome toast or blessing. Then, sometime during dinner, the Best Man and Maid of Honor give toasts. At cake cutting, the couple themselves might want to give a toast to say thank you to their guests. But...as always, we emphasize that ‘typical’ might not be for you!

-A new trend with gay weddings is a toast during the ceremony. So fun!

-Remember - it’s a toast, not a roast! Oh, and 5 minutes is a looooong time to talk.

-If there is someone that you definitely DON’T want to give a toast at your wedding, make sure you tell your planner, or if you don’t have a planner, tell your DJ or emcee to be vigilant with the mic.

-People can toast with whatever they are drinking. Champagne is nice, but not a total necessity.

Links we referenced

We didn't

Quotes

“I have a confession to make. I eat a LOT of fast food. I probably have fast food -- my ears are burning because I am so filled with shame -- 4-5 times a week.” - Christy. Confessing her fast food addiction to Michelle (It took us a while to get around to actually talking about toasts. We were catching up!)

“When else in your life are you going to be in a room where people are going to stand up and tell you how much they love you? Your funeral. That’s it. ...I’m of the mind that the more people that want to toast, the better. Let’s just figure out the best way to time it all out.” - Christy. We told you she LOVES toasts!

“Good rule of thumb. Whoever is hosting the event - they are the ones that give the welcome toast.” - Michelle. See, sometimes we have easy-peasy real-world advice!

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The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is…

Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez 

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"Let’s talk about gifts, baby - Let’s talk about you and me - Let’s talk about all the good things...Salt n Pepa? Anyone? Ok. In this episode, Christy and Michelle talk about the wedding registry. Where to register, how to register, what’s new in the world of wedding registries, our advice, our experiences and our favorite wedding gifts. Listen to this episode and learn all about wedding gifts, from couple, to guest, to planner.

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Big Takeaways

If you want to register for gifts, there are MANY options available. We recommend registering at a ‘traditional’ store like Target or Crate and Barrel, especially if you have a bunch of older guests coming (ages 50 and above). Your relatives want to get you something that you want, but they want to go about getting it their way! Your guests may also want to bring an actual gift, rather than have it delivered to you ahead of time.

Most stores offer an incentive when you register with them, and offer a discount on whatever you don’t end up getting as a gift. Amazon Prime offers a pretty good deal too.

Michelle and Christy should be sponsored by the stores we mention more than 3 times in an episode. DO YOU HEAR US, ZOLA AND CRATE AND BARREL? Omg - how much do we love those nesting bowls?!

Write thank you notes for your wedding gifts! It’s just the right thing to do, y’all.

Links we referenced

Online places to register:

Stores we love and mentioned:

Quotes

“If you don’t have a wedding registry, you are taking the risk of getting some crazy tacky gifts.” - Michelle, bottom line.

“The truth is: that little gun thing that you get to use when you register, it’s really fun.” - Christy, about the only gun she likes: a gift registry gun.

“Nesting bowls encapsulate everything you are...it’s the one single item that best defines Michelle Martinez.” - Christy, describing her dear friend and co-host Michelle

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The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is…

Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez 

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Michelle and Christy tackle kids on this episode. Not literally, of course. We seldom actually tackle kids, but if you end up having a bunch of kids at your wedding and they ruin everything, you may want to tackle a couple of them. On the flip side, kids are awesome and may just take your big ‘ol family wedding from fun to AMAZING, so let’s dish about it...as we do!

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Big Takeaways

There are several ways to make it clear to your invitees that you don’t want kids at your wedding Put it on the invitation and the wedding website. Enlist the MOMS, tell your moms and tell them to spread the word.

You are not obligated to entertain the kids at your wedding - but if you can, we suggest you do. Provide kids meals, pay for event sitters to chill with the kids in an adjacent room. Set up a special table with customized baskets filled with crayons and coloring books.

As always - we suggest you make the best decision for YOU, and let the chips fall where they may.

Links we referenced

Quotes we referenced

“It’s your wedding, it’s your decision. Don’t worry about people getting upset on that day. Worry about YOU, and having a great time.”

-Michelle, BOOM.

“Where are they going to put them to bed and where will they be when I come in later and I’m totally hammered and I want to have some fun with my husband?”

-Michelle, asking the question of the ages about how exactly kids are going to cock-block on a fun date-night

“Kids are weird. They’re going to have like one bite, go out on the dance floor and spin around on their heads, then come back and finish it off. Think about what you’re going to serve them, how you’re going to serve them and what time.”

-Christy

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The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is…

Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez 

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Wedding Planning can be a stressful, unenjoyable, expectation-crushing, soul sucking experience that drives you to the absolute brink of relationship death! But it doesn’t have to be this way. In this episode, we debunk the stress-myth and share our vast experience about how to keep your eye on the prize and your feet on the ground as you plan your wedding. Stay alert and stay alive, y’all. Shit just got real!

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Big Takeaways

Links we referenced

Quotes

“A wedding is a representation of ourselves - of our identity as a couple. We are illuminating and displaying it for our family and friends on our wedding day. It’s a union to bring together our family and best friends...this is the village. We are creating something new with this marriage….This is a recipe for crazy.” -Michelle. We get it. Michelle frames it.

“Let this podcast redirect the focus, if you are in the thick of planning your wedding or if you’re just counting down the last couple weeks until your wedding...like, take a deep breath. This is just the beginning - it’s like a fun, opening day party for the rest of your life and relationship. Recognize that no matter what happens, at the end of this day - you will be married!” -Christy. Hey, if you are going to meditate, you can use this as your mantra.

“Once a decision is made, move on. That’s a big piece of advice for ‘don’t get crazy’. ...Don’t waste brain energy and time on decisions that have already been made. Let it go. Move on.” -Christy. Seriously, move on.

Get In Touch

The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is…

Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez 

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It can get confusing. Wedding Planner, Wedding Consultant, Day Of Coordination, Month Of Coordination, the venue has a coordinator, we don’t blame you for being confused. In this episode, we discuss and explain in depth all of the terms and services so that it all makes sense.

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Big Take Aways

Links We Referenced

Certification course that Michelle and Christy both took to become certified wedding consultants: https://www.ce.csueastbay.edu/ce/programs/wedding-planner/

Episode Quotes

“CWC – Certified Wedding Consultant, that is my official title. General lingo on the street is ‘wedding planner’.” “As consultants, you do some teaching, I do some speaking, we’re getting paid to do things other than actual wedding planning, which is our expertise, more of a consultant. Also, working with a couple for only a couple of hours, to answer questions, and that feels more like consulting than planning.” – Christy and Michelle, discussing their title. Confused yet?

“I am of the opinion that there is no such thing as a true ‘Day of Planner’ – no matter what they call themselves, it’s not possible to do a good job by just showing up on the day of the wedding and getting a bit of info from the bride and just planning the wedding from that point. That’s just a recipe for disaster.” –Christy, on a ‘day of wedding planning’

“About a month before – Boom! There’s all these details! And at that point, you don’t want your phone ringing off the hook with vendors asking questions, or your email inundated with all these questions about details while you are trying to get things done in your real life – like work!” - Michelle, on what a great Month-of wedding planner will help you with

Get In Touch

The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is…

Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices