The Feel Good Wedding Podcast by Polka Dot Wedding

In this inspiring episode, we welcome the delightful Dee Wild of Custom Celebrations By Dee - a marriage celebrant radiating joy, warmth and inclusivity from every pore. Based in Melbourne's northern suburbs, Dee has been officiating weddings for about five years now after realising she needed a career that allowed her to truly be herself.

Fuelled by a desire to spread more positivity after Australia's LGBTQ marriage plebiscite, Dee decided to combine her loves of writing, storytelling and being around love-filled celebrations by becoming a celebrant. From the very beginning, she has made it her mission to attract like-minded couples by showing up authentically as her full, proud, queer self online and in person.

With her vibrant presence, heartfelt spirit and firm belief that every wedding should be a reflection of the unique couple at its core, Dee is the perfect guide for today's chat on hiring inclusive, values-aligned vendors.

Dee shares her insights on:

• What inclusivity means in the wedding world, extending beyond LGBTQI+ representation to disabilities, neurodivergence, cultural backgrounds and more
• Red flags to watch for when vetting potential vendors' websites, marketing materials and initial communications
• Thoughtful questions to ask vendors to gauge if they will create an affirming atmosphere for your day
• Beautiful real wedding examples of couples who crafted ceremonies and celebrations authentic to their identities
• Practical tips vendors can implement to convey their inclusive practices
• How the wedding industry can continue evolving to better represent all couples

Whether you're a couple on your wedding journey or a vendor striving to be more inclusive, this candid conversation will leave you feeling empowered to plan with your values at the forefront. Dee's warm personality and wise perspective will have you nodding along in agreement and motivated to spread more positivity in this space.

Because at the end of the aisle, your vendor squad should excite and calm you - not cause any doubts about whether they'll honour every beautiful part of who you are.

Links & Vendors Mentioned:

 Custom Celebrations By Dee Instagram

Find Dee

On Polka Dot Wedding: Custom Celebrations By Dee

On The Web: Custom Celebrations By Dee

On Facebook: Custom Celebrations By Dee

On Instagram:  Custom Celebrations By Dee

On Pinterest: Custom Celebrations By Dee

Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:

On Instagram: @polkadotwedding

On the website: polkadotwedding.com

This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding

The Polka Dot Wedding team is honoured to conduct our work on the land of the BoonWurrung, WoiWorung, Eora and Kuring-gai people. We honour the traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past & present.

Marquee weddings offer a charming blend of natural landscapes and customisable celebration spaces. Today, we're exploring what you need to know about planning a seamless marquee wedding day as we chat with Julia Vardy from the picturesque Mewburn Park.

Nestled 2.5 hours from Melbourne, Mewburn Park marries historical buildings with beautiful country surroundings. With multiple wedding spaces, including a grand clear marquee, and on-site accommodation, it's an ideal choice for a weekend escape wedding. Julia's expertise makes her the perfect guide for navigating marquee wedding logistics.

In this chat, we discuss:

• The amazing history of the family-run Mewburn Park business
• Tips for selecting the right wedding venue
• The importance of vibing with your vendors
• Pros and cons of a marquee wedding
• Key considerations for a summer marquee celebration
• Creative ways to personalize the marquee's blank canvas

From understanding power requirements to preparing for weather contingencies, Julia shares her insights on merging your dream vision with realistic planning. We'll also cover coordinating with other vendors and personalizing marquee decor to craft a unique atmosphere reflecting your styles.

Julia offers a behind-the-scenes look at running a venue, highlighting special moments that make each event memorable - from the pre-ceremony excitement to the magic of the grand reveal. Learn how to create an unforgettable experience by finding the perfect setting and thinking through all the details.

Tune in for a practical guide to planning your marquee wedding at Mewburn Park's breathtaking venue, leaving nothing to chance.

Links & Vendors Mentioned:

Mrewburn Park Instagram

Find Julia & Mewburn Park

On Polka Dot Wedding: Mewburn Park

On The Web: Mewburn Park

On Facebook: Mewburn Park

On Instagram: Mewburn Park

On Pinterest: Mewburn Park

Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:

On Instagram: @polkadotwedding

On the website: polkadotwedding.com

This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding

The Polka Dot Wedding team is honoured to conduct our work on the land of the BoonWurrung, WoiWorung, Eora and Kuring-gai people. We honour the traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past & present.

A wedding day where everything falls magically into place - that's the power of a great wedding planner. In this month's episode of The Feel Good Wedding podcast, Sarah Johnston from Girl Friday Weddings pulls back the curtain on hiring a pro for your big day.

With over 15 years of experience, Girl Friday Weddings opened its doors in 2009. This award-winning Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane boutique wedding planning agency offers services ranging from full planning to day-of coordination. Founder Sarah Johnston has built the business around helping couples create their dream wedding, whether that's an intimate elopement or a grand affair.

In this episode, Sarah shares insider tips on how locking in a planner early on can be a game-changing move. She provides a behind-the-scenes look at the strategic decisions that elevate your celebration while keeping it budget-conscious. You'll learn Sarah's approach to assembling a dream vendor team and avoiding common pitfalls and overwhelmed feelings during planning. She also shares advice on crafting a wedding day that feels effortless, seamless and completely you.

In this chat, we discuss:

• The benefits of wedding planners
• What is an in-house planner vs an external wedding planner?
• How can you choose your wedding vendors wisely?
• The value of relationships in weddings How to beat overwhelm and prioritise what is important to you
• The wedding word budge myth
• How to make the most of your wedding budget and figure out what's important

If you're looking to better understand the role of a wedding planner and how they can help craft your perfect day, don't miss this episode

Links & Vendors Mentioned:

Girl Friday Weddings

Celebrant Kate

Find Sarah & Girl Friday Weddings

On Polka Dot Wedding: Girl Friday Weddings

On The Web: Girl Friday Weddings

On Facebook: Girl Friday Weddings

On Instagram: Girl Friday Weddings

On Pinterest: Girl Friday Weddings

Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:

On Instagram: @polkadotwedding

On the website: polkadotwedding.com

This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding

The Polka Dot Wedding team is honoured to conduct our work on the land of the BoonWurrung, WoiWorung, Eora and Kuring-gai people. We honour the traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past & present.

Often, there’s a dilemma when it comes to wedding photos. We all want to have beautiful pictures that contain even just a speck of the emotion of the day—but so many of us feel awkward in front of the camera.

Fortunately, this isn’t an impossible problem. This month's guest, Dani Bartlett exemplifies our point that no one is truly “unphotogenic.” All they need to do is find the right photographer that helps them get comfortable.

Dani is the face,  the talent behind Melbourne-based wedding photography studio, Dani Bartlett Photography, providing wedding photography and family portraits for lovers of fun and colour.

In this chat, we discuss:

• How to not feel awkward posing for wedding photos
• What to look for in wedding photographers
• Balancing candid and formal photographers
• Completely candid vs guided candid photographers
• Games for candid photography
• Effective posing techniques
• Breathing fresh life into family portraits

Your wedding photos are treasures you only have one day of getting. You’ll probably look through hundreds of wedding photographers as you search for the right one. One way to help you is to look through their galleries. That way, you can get a clearer sense of the ins and outs of their work throughout the ceremony.

When you’ve chosen a photographer, communication is key. Meet with them in person, have dinner, and just chat to help you get to know them better and—importantly—feel more comfortable. How relaxed you feel with them allows you to feel more confident in front of the camera on your pre-wedding shoot and wedding day, and it’ll translate in the photos.

Ultimately, what’s important is to trust your photographer and have fun. Communicate what you want and trust their direction. They might throw a prompt or game at you to lighten your portraits. Go with the flow. Explore where the prompts take you; you’d be surprised at how lovely you and your partner look when you’re just relaxing and having fun.

Links & Vendors Mentioned:

Dani Bartlett Photography

Find Dani Bartlett Photography:

On Polka Dot Wedding: Dani Bartlett Photography

On Facebook: Dani Bartlett Photography

On Instagram: @danibartlettphotography

On Pinterest: Dani Bartlett Photography

Find Dani Bartlett:

On LinkedIn: Danielle (O’Halloran) Bartlett

Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:

On Instagram: @polkadotwedding

On the website: polkadotwedding.com

This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding

The Polka Dot Wedding team is honoured to conduct our work on the land of the BoonWurrung, WoiWorung, Eora and Kuring-gai people. We honour the traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past & present.

A wedding’s style isn’t just about aesthetics. Floral and event designer Steph Jordan makes sure that every design detail and flower arrangement reflects the couple accurately. 

Steph is the Owner and Director of Nunu Designs, award-winning wedding florists passionate about making your event even better than how you imagined.

In this chat we discuss:

●      The difference between a wedding stylist and wedding florist 

●      Hiring the right wedding stylist and florist 

●      How to start the styling process

●      Bringing style and floral ideas to life

●      Budgeting for styling

●      Deciding the final look

●      Personalising a wedding’s style

●      Streamlining the styling process

Arguably, one of the most critical parts of a wedding is its look. Whether you’ve been thinking about what your dream wedding would look like since you were a kid, saved design inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram, or haven’t got a clue about flower pairings, a professional stylist and florist will help you bring your ideas to life.

It’s integral to build trust and a rapport with your vendor. Ultimately, it’s a collaboration between you and them. 

Meeting with the stylist, whether face-to-face or online, allows you to explain your thoughts in detail to help them make the best design decisions on your behalf. They can help you stay within your budget while maintaining the wow factor and personalisation of your wedding. 

Links & Vendors Mentioned:

Nunu Designs

Find Nunu Designs:

On Polka Dot Wedding: Nunu Designs

On Facebook: Nunu Designs

On Instagram: @nunuau

On Pinterest: @nunudesignsau

Find Steph Jordan:

On LinkedIn: Stephanie Jordan 

Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:

On Instagram: @polkadotwedding

On the website: polkadotwedding.com

This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding

The Polka Dot Wedding team is honoured to conduct our work on the land of the BoonWurrung, WoiWorung, Eora and Kuring-gai people. We honour the traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past & present.

People marvel at weddings, but it’s the preparation and hard work that makes it happen in the first place! For this week’s episode, the Polka Dot Wedding team chats about the mental load of wedding planning. The pressure to plan typically falls on the bride, but Ms Polka (Dot), Ms Rose (Mary), and Ms Peacock (Julia) give tips on how to share the work load as a couple.

In this chat we discuss:

• How we each approached planning our own weddings
• The pros and cons of DIY weddings
• Planning your wedding together as a couple
• Wedding mission statements
• Protecting your emotional bandwidth
• The post-wedding comedown
• How to have fun while wedding planning

Weddings are a celebration of a couple’s love story, so it’s only right that both partners are involved in the planning process.

Before you begin, draft a wedding mission statement together. Write down and decide the most important aspects of your wedding. The mission statement will serve as your guide, allowing you to prioritize what’s essential and to compromise on what’s not. It also ensures that both of your wishes are reflected on your big day.

If you’d like, you can create a joint email address so that both partners are always in the loop about wedding planning. Attending meetings together is also a good strategy. Always be open and honest about how you’re feeling and the responsibilities that each of you can take on. It’s important to spend time together outside of wedding planning and to make time for self-care.

When things get too overwhelming, don’t be afraid to seek help. Delegate tasks to friends and family members who are willing to step up. Lean on your vendors because they can help lighten your mental load. Hire a wedding planner or give yourself more time, if that’s what you need.

Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:

On Instagram: @polkadotwedding

On the website: polkadotwedding.com

This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding

The Polka Dot Wedding team is honoured to conduct our work on the land of the BoonWurrung, WoiWorung, Eora and Kuring-gai people. We honour the traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past & present.

Music enhances whatever emotion we feel in the moment. That’s why it’s so important to curate your wedding playlist. To help us get started, musician Lucas Evans reveals his favourite songs to play at weddings that really sets the mood.

Lucas is the drummer and band leader of Orlando Combo, one of Melbourne’s finest jazz bands. The band regularly performs at the Australian Tennis Open, Australian Grand Prix, AFL Grand Finals, and of course, weddings!

In this chat we discuss:

• About Orlando Combo
• Orlando Combo's jazz wedding repertoire
• Setting the mood for the ceremony and reception
• Music for guests of all ages
• Building the ultimate wedding playlist
• The perks of live bands
• Rearranging songs for the wedding
• Lucas’ go-to song for weddings

Before you start building your ultimate wedding playlist, consider the flow of the day. For the ceremony, you can have instrumental music or music with lyrics. If you choose the latter, make sure the message of the song suits the occasion. Typically, gentle melodies work best during the processional and then it’s followed by more upbeat tunes during the recessional.

The volume of music is also worth paying attention to. Guests will want to mingle and chat at the start of the reception, so light music should be sufficient. The music shouldn’t be at full blast the whole time, because it can make the wedding feel a little one note (pun intended!).

The perks of having a live band like Orlando Combo is that they’re skilled musicians who can read the room and adjust accordingly. Couples can also ask a live band to reimagine personally meaningful songs so that it’s included in their big day. Song choice does matter, but how they’re performed definitely affects the crowd’s engagement and enjoyment.

Links & Vendors Mentioned:

Orlando Combo

What Would They Know? Lucas Evans of Orlando Combo

Find Orlando Combo: 

On Polka Dot Wedding: Orlando Combo

orlandocombo.com.au

On Instagram: @orlandocombo

On Facebook: Orlando Combo

On YouTube: @OrlandoCombojazzbandMelbourne

Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:

On Instagram: @polkadotwedding

On the website: polkadotwedding.com

This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding

The Polka Dot Wedding team is honoured to conduct our work on the land of the BoonWurrung, WoiWorung, Eora and Kuring-gai people. We honour the traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past & present.

“The way you get married is how you’re going to be married.” Those wise words came from Josh Withers, wedding celebrant extraordinaire and our guest on Episode #25 of The Feel Good Wedding Podcast. The ceremony kicks off married life, and according to Josh, you want it to be as intentional as possible.

Apart from being a wedding celebrant, Josh is also the author of The Rebel’s Guide to Getting Married. He and his wife Britt are the founders of the Elopement Collective, a team of vendors that create epic elopements in Australia and around the world.

In this chat we discuss:

• The history of wedding celebrancy
• The Rebel’s Guide to Getting Married
• Personalizing the wedding ceremony
• Overcoming stage fright
• Honouring your identity and story with unique elements
• How to deal with pushback from friends and family

To personalise your wedding ceremony, begin by reflecting on who you are and what you value as a couple. From there, pick out vendors who understand how to make your vision come to life.

Now, what you’d like to include in your ceremony is entirely up to you. If you feel like you have to incorporate non-traditional elements, go for it! There might be some qualms about it, but your family and friends will understand as long as you speak to them from a place of love.

Vows and readings don’t have to be flashy, they just have to be true. Some couples get stage fright standing in front of a crowd. To overcome this, choose the venue, time, and guests that you’re most comfortable in. You’ll feel a lot less nervous when you’re in right environment. Remember: the wedding ceremony isn’t about putting on a show. It’s about celebrating your union in the most authentic way possible.

Links & Vendors Mentioned:

Josh Withers
Elopement Collective
Understanding “The Wedding Tax” With Josh Withers

Find Josh Withers: 

On Polka Dot Wedding: Josh Withers Wedding Celebrant
withers.co/celebrant
On Instagram: @hellojoshwithers
On Facebook: Josh Withers
On LinkedIn: Josh Withers

Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:

On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast

Wedding pro? Join our membership here.

This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding.

The Polka Dot Wedding team is honoured to conduct our work on the land of the BoonWurrung, WoiWorung, Eora and Kuring-gai people. We honour the traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past & present

Dressing your wedding party can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be if you talk about the important stuff early on. Here with us today is Tessa Hartnett of Bridesmaids Only,, giving us tips on how to coordinate outfits without the stress!

Tessa is the owner of Bridesmaids Only, your one-stop shop for wedding party attire.  With over 10,000 designs, they have a wide range of styles, colours, fabrics and sizes that cater to every body type. Their “Try Before You Buy” service is a godsend, allowing bridesmaids to try on outfits in the comfort of their own homes.

In this chat we discuss:

• About Bridesmaids Only
• Sensitive conversations with your wedding party
• When to start preparing wedding attire
• Who pays for wedding attire?
• Styling according to wedding theme
• Accommodating everybody’s preferences
• Future trends for wedding party outfits

Before you begin the shopping process, it’s important to discuss the budget and style preferences of your wedding party. Knowing all these details beforehand will make for a much smoother coordination of outfits. With that being said, allot around four to six months of preparation so you can have a good array of options.

There is no set rule for who should pay for the wedding attire. But generally, the bridesmaids and groomsmen purchase their own apparel that they are happy to keep in their wardrobes. If the couple insists on a certain style, they usually shoulder the costs for their wedding party.

When it comes to matching the wedding theme, a specific colour or fabric is a helpful starting point. Mixing and matching styles is another great option to accommodate multi-gendered parties. Never underestimate what flower bouquets can do to make a look cohesive!

Ultimately, each person will have their own taste. Respecting everyone’s choices so they can look and feel their best is key to dressing your wedding party.

Links & Vendors Mentioned:

Bridesmaids Only

Find Bridesmaids Only: 

On Polka Dot Wedding: Bridesmaids Only
bridesmaidsonly.com.au
On Instagram: @bridesmaidsonly
On Facebook: Bridesmaids Only
On Pinterest: @TheOnlyCo

Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:

On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast

Wedding pro? Join our membership here.

This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding.

The Polka Dot Wedding team is honoured to conduct our work on the land of the BoonWurrung, WoiWorung, Eora and Kuring-gai people. We honour the traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past & present

Weddings are usually multi-venue affairs, but there are definitely perks to having the ceremony and reception all in one place. With a venue like Zonzo Estate, which houses a farm, restaurant, and winery, you’ll want for nothing more.

Rod Micallef, the director of Zonzo Estate, is here to talk about their humble beginnings as a restaurant and how they became one of the most booked wedding venues in Yarra Valley. Fun fact: Rod met his wife at Zonzo Estate and of course, got married there!

In this chat we discuss:

• Zonzo Estate's unique approach to weddings
• Zonzo Estate's restaurant, farm, and winery
• Advantages of having one venue for your wedding day
• Creating a network of trusted suppliers
• How to choose your all-in-one venue
• A seamless wedding day at Zonzo Estate
• All-in-one venue vs blank canvas space
• Styling the venue tastefully
• How Zonzo Estate stays on trend

Having a single venue for your big day isn’t always cheaper, but it’s a lot less work for everyone involved. Parking and transportation become non-issues since there is only one location. Guests can make themselves comfortable without having to think of a place to wait at until the reception. The couple isn’t rushed from location to location either, allowing them to go at their own pace. All in all, the day flows better and there are more opportunities for the guests and couple to mingle.

There are a few things to consider when choosing your all-in-one venue. Are there multiple sites? Weddings take a full day, and it can feel like a long day without a change of scenery. Ask about weather contingency plans and the overall flow of the ceremony and reception. Couples are also encouraged to meet the staff so they can gauge if they feel comfortable with them and their service.

Links & Vendors Mentioned:

Zonzo Estate

Vendor of the Week – Zonzo Estate

What Would They Know? Rod Micallef of Zonzo Estate

Find Zonzo Estate: 

On Polka Dot Wedding: Zonzo Estate

www.zonzo.com.au

On Instagram: @zonzoestate

On TikTok: @zonzo_estate

On YouTube: @zonzoestate

Find Dorothy & the Polka Dot Wedding team:

On Instagram: @polkadotwedding
On the website: polkadotwedding.com
For full transcript and show notes visit: polkadotwedding.com/podcast

Wedding pro? Join our membership here.

This podcast was produced by Polka Dot Wedding.

The Polka Dot Wedding team is honoured to conduct our work on the land of the BoonWurrung, WoiWorung, Eora and Kuring-gai people. We honour the traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders custodians of the land and pay our respects to Elders past & present.