In this episode of Bridal Extravaganza Show's Vendor Talk we chat with Gloria from Life With Beauty, a handmade personalized favor and gift shop.

Brides tend to worry a bit about wedding favors – they generally want to gift their guests with something thoughtful and memorable, without being too kitsch about it. Balancing subtlety with beauty can be a real challenge, but Gloria and her team have it covered. Whether brides are looking for gifts for their bridal party or favors for all of their wedding guests, Gloria can help them decide on something absolutely perfect for the occasion.

Everything sold in the Life With Beauty Etsy store is handmade. No two items are alike. By her own admission, Gloria tells us that there must be thousands of inexpensive items in their online store. Each item is customizable too, so brides can really make a memorable choice. It’s very trendy to have wedding favors personalized – it makes everything feel more “in the moment”.

Gloria started her business after planning her own wedding in 2014. After slogging away in the corporate world for nearly a decade, Gloria decided to focus on her family. Transitioning from a 50-hour work week to being a stay-at-home mom turned out to be too much of a challenge, and Gloria hankered after something to do. She wanted something she could do at her own pace and at her own leisure that would keep her business mind stimulated.

We chat to Gloria about the challenges she’s faced as a new business owner, and the ups and downs of owning a start-up. She gives us the scoop on the software she uses, how she navigates the tricky world of eCommerce, how to convey quality online, and other interesting issues. We get the low down on the most popular items in Gloria’s store, and what’s trending in the bridal industry right now.

Brides can browse Gloria’s etsy store by visiting lifewithbeauty.etsy.com. Alternatively, she can be reached via email at [email protected].

In this episode of Bridal Extravaganza Show's Vendor Talk we chat with Corinne Smith from Hochzeit Hall.

Corinne has been in the bridal industry for quite some time. Corinne’s family owned a bridal business in New Orleans called “Fleur de Lys”. The family business was centered around creating bridal gowns, and Corinne did a fair bit of modelling and odd jobs for her parents.

Now, Corinne is the proud owner of a wedding venue where she focusses on providing brides and grooms with the personal touch that’s so often lacking in modern wedding venues. She does everything old school – nothing is automated on a computer. From that first big hug at their very first appointment, brides know that Corinne is a lot like their fairy godmother.

Corinne’s services as wedding coordinator are included when clients rent the hall. As coordinator, Corinne helps brides to make sure that their vendors are organized, and that everything runs smoothly on the day.

The venue keeps in line with the aesthetic of Old Town Spring. The vintage-looking building is filled with chandeliers and antique décor, and seats 300 guests comfortably. Outside is an open air chapel, with dropdown sides during the colder months. While the building is a new construction, the “old-world” feel is unmistakeable.

In this episode of the Bridal Extravaganza Show's “Bride Talk” Podcast, we chat with Shanelle. This real life Houston bride talks to us about her proposal and wedding planning process. Although she’s in the beginning stages, she feels as though she’s making good progress.

This bride really enjoyed the Bridal Extravaganza Show. Trying out photo booths and cakes is a definite highlight! Shanelle and her groom are doing a destination wedding, so the show is a great source of inspiration for all the events leading up to the celebration itself.

Shanelle’s advice to other brides is to “get a good man”. Fairly solid advice that is too!

In this episode of the Bridal Extravaganza Show's “Vendor Talk” Podcast, we chat with Tamika from Exclusive Wellness & Aesthetics. This house call service provides medical services, sick visits, and aesthetics services in the comfort of the clients home, office, or hotel. For brides, in particular, the Botox, Juviderm, IV vitamins, and after-party rehydration services are quite useful.

What makes this company different from so many others is that they come to you. When you’re too busy for a trip to the doctor’s office, you give Exclusive Wellness a call, and they pop by. Tamika’s background as a family nurse practitioner gives her the edge over other aestheticians – she makes sure that her clients feel safe in her hands.

In this episode of the Bridal Extravaganza Show's “Bride Talk” Podcast, we chat with real life Texas bride, Allyson. She talks to us about her wedding planning experience with her hands-on husband-to-be and all the ups and downs they’ve faced during the process. They’ve nailed down all the basics: venue, tuxedos, and caterer. Next on the to-do list is the dress.

This bride’s advice to other couples is simple: don’t procrastinate. The longer you wait to get things done, the more stressed out you’ll be.

In this episode of the Bridal Extravaganza Show's “Groom Talk” Podcast, we chat with Joss. This real groom chats to us about how he met his husband-to-be and fills us in on their gorgeous Christmas Eve proposal.

As far as challenges go, they had to rush to book their venue to beat three other couples out of booking it on the same day! Joss’ advice to other grooms and brides is to have fun. It’s so easy to forget that planning a wedding should be a fun experience, especially when the stress sets in.

In this episode of the Bridal Extravaganza Show's “Bride Talk” Podcast, we chat with Mariel. This real life bride chats to us about her high school sweetheart and her romantic (and unexpected) proposal during her fiance’s graduation speech.

So far, this bride has started looking for local venues and has locked down her color scheme. Mariel has decided not to hire a wedding planner – she wants to enjoy the experience herself. With a whole 2 years to plan the wedding, it seems like more than enough time to get everything done. Her advice to other brides is not to rush into anything and to give themselves the time to plan everything properly.

In this episode of the Bridal Extravaganza Show's “Bride Talk” Podcast, we chat with Croix. This real life bride chats to us about how she and her husband met and how he proposed to her at the African-American Museum in Washington.

This couple attended the Bridal Extravaganza Show to get some inspiration. They’re in the beginning stages of the planning process, so all they’ve done so far is find themselves a wedding planner. One thing this bride does know, is that she wants a spring wedding with floral, earthy, vintage vibes. Croix’s advice to other brides is to not “freak out” and go with the flow.

In this episode of the Bridal Extravaganza Show's “Bride Talk” Podcast, we chat with Kashara. She fills us in on how she met her groom at Prospect Park Willowbrook, and how he popped the question on her birthday. This couple has a year to plan their wedding, so while there may be challenges, they have enough time to overcome each new hurdle.

This couple’s biggest challenge so far has been nailing down the perfect venue. They have, however, decided to take a romantic leap and have the ceremony at the church where the proposal took place. Kashara’s advice to other bride is straightforward: it’s your wedding, so do what you want to do!

In this episode of the Bridal Extravaganza Show's “Bride Talk” Podcast, we chat with Danielle. This real-life Houston bride met her future husband at church. The first step in this happy couple’s wedding planning process was to start making a list of guests and who they wanted in their bridal party. The next step was to find a venue.

Danielle tells us that there have been quite a few challenges in the planning process – which is to be expected, really. Finding sequined bridesmaids dresses, finding the perfect wedding dress, and searching for the perfect cake have all been a bit of a challenge, according to Danielle.

This bride’s advice is to make use of all your resources and to make sure that your family is by your side, because being along is just too stressful. Without her matron of honor and maid of honor, Danielle feels like she would have been completely lost.