"Always a bridesmaid, never the bride..." 

We all know a friend who has been to numerous wedding parties and has wedding stories galore! We were lucky enough to have Emily, the sister of a Here Comes The Guide staff member, write to us with nine great tips.

There are 9 tips which correspond to the 9 bridesmaid dresses Emily has hanging in her closet. From listening to her stories, she has experienced some interesting events and has great advice for those of us expecting to attend some more weddings!

Maybe you are listening to this episode while you are planning a wedding of your own or maybe you are a wedding party member and this episode was sent to you, either way, there are plenty of tips to pick up on! (there are some GREAT ones for wedding party members, so definitely send to your go-to people)

Do you have any other tips and advice we should know about? Drop us a line on our website and visit our socials to DM us there!

Wedding planning involves A LOT of details... So let us help you figure out some things you don't want to overlook! From insider industry knowledge to personal experiences, we share advice for things you need to consider while wedding planning.

In this episode, our guest Mackenzie Richards joins us to share her experience as a Wedding Coordinator with her business Mack & Jack Events!! She brings incredible advice that you don't want to miss.

See further details on this episode and show notes on our site (theguidegalspodcast.com) and follow us on socials to get all of the behind-the-scenes peeks (@theguidegalspodcast)!

Let us know what you think of the episode in the comments, DM us on socials with other things you think listeners should know, and subscribe to our podcast wherever it's available! We appreciate your support so much.

Visit Here Comes The Guide for even more wedding planning info and beautiful wedding venues.

Episode Eleven of The Guide Gals Podcast - Things I Wish I Would've Known While Wedding Planning

Snag that sparkly symbol of love with confidence!

Regardless of what you ultimately spend on an engagement ring, one thing's for certain – this is one of the biggest purchases of your life! Not necessarily due to the dollar amount, but because of everything this ring represents. It's a symbol of unconditional love, but you also want your significant other to love it. #nopressure

So how do you choose the right ring? Read the tips, terminology, and FAQs below for the ultimate guide to buying an engagement ring!

Check out our show notes and episode details here!

Check out https://theguidegalspodcast.com/ and follow us on Instagram @theguidegalspodcast!

You've probably already factored in the wedding budget basics, but what about those unanticipated costs that you wouldn't be aware of unless you worked in the wedding industry?

You know The Guide Gals Podcast has got your back! We're calling out pesky hidden wedding costs many couples get blindsided by.

We see you, hidden fees.

Check out our show notes and episode details here!

Check out https://theguidegalspodcast.com/ and follow us on Instagram @theguidegalspodcast!

Think wedding branding only applies to influencers or couples with big budgets and high-end planners? Think again! We promise this isn't as fancy as it sounds: Branding your wedding is simply having a set of guidelines to inform the overall look and feel of your event. This can benefit you in the following ways:

1. Having some general aesthetic guidelines will tie your entire event together
2. It will make your design decisions easier by giving them structure
3. It's an effective tool for communicating your wedding vision to your vendors
4. It can help your planning stay focused, streamlined, and inherently less stressful!

To be clear, branding your wedding is not about being Pinterest-perfect. Instead, it's about landing on what you want your celebration to embody—both visually and emotionally—and bringing it to life through color, ambience, personalized elements, and thoughtful details.

Ready to brand your wedding like a boss? Let's do this.

Check out our show notes and episode details here!

Check out https://theguidegalspodcast.com/ and follow us on Instagram @theguidegalspodcast!

There are some things we've come to expect from a wedding. From the bouquet toss to the cake cutting, certain wedding traditions are as ingrained in our culture as Christmas trees, Thanksgiving turkey, and fireworks on the 4th of July.

But times, they are a 'changin! Engaged couples are no longer bound by "rules" and "expectations" when it comes to their big day. Whether you skip traditional formalities altogether or find creative ways to make them your own, there are plenty of opportunities to shake up your celebration. Hear about these alternative wedding ideas that beautifully break tradition.

It's YOUR wedding. Do what you want to!

Check out our show notes and episode details here!

Check out https://theguidegalspodcast.com/ and follow us on Instagram @theguidegalspodcast!

The Guide Gals at Here Comes The Guide GET IT.

When working full-time, any task as enormous as wedding planning feels like a second job! When are you supposed to fit in tasks like venue tours, cake tastings, and makeup trials when you're already committed to a 9–5? (and more if you're committed to other things, which we're guessing you are!)

 Now you may not have a CEO as cool and progressive as Meredith Monday Schwartz, but even those with the most demanding careers can efficiently plan a wedding with a bit of strategy.

We have plenty of tips for you to help you get organized and tackle this wedding planning like the boss we know you are!! 💪

Find the FREE Wedding Printables here!

Check out our show notes and episode details here! 

Check out https://theguidegalspodcast.com/ and follow us on Instagram @theguidegalspodcast!

Looking to turn your "big day" into a multi-day event? Consider hosting a full-fledged wedding weekend.

Multi-day celebrations are seriously trending—and not just for cultural or destination weddings! Many couples have suffered through multiple postponements as a result of the pandemic, and are yearning to make the most of their wedding when it (finally!) happens. A mere five-hour event just doesn't seem to make up for all that lost time with loved ones.

Enter the long wedding weekend. Couples are opting to stretch out their weddings over the course of 3–4 days, with multiple events occurring within that time frame. Perhaps it starts with a welcome party to kick off the weekend, followed by recreational activities the next day, a rehearsal dinner, the wedding ceremony and reception, an afterparty, and a farewell event on the last day. 

Whether it's a formal affair with an intimate group or a casual bash with a gaggle of guests, a wedding weekend is whatever you want it to be. And although your wedding weekend will be based on your overall budget, style, and preferences, here are 8 things you'll want to nail down before planning your extended celebration.

Check out our show notes and episode details here!

Check out https://theguidegalspodcast.com/ and follow us on Instagram @theguidegalspodcast!

You're engaged! That's a big deal. And we're so glad you found us.

Think of us as your girlfriends who work in the wedding industry trenches and are here to walk alongside you in the planning process. We've seen it all sides, we’ve been brides, planners, bridesmaids, vendors, and have worked with standout brands throughout the industry. We can't wait to share our expert advice with you.

Believe us when we tell you: We're on this wedding planning ride together. The Guide Gals truly cares. Here Comes The Guide is NOT a tech company. And you are NOT an algorithm. We care about you. So let's curl up on the couch in our yoga pants and dive right in!

Check out our show notes and episode details here!

Check out https://theguidegalspodcast.com/ and follow us on Instagram @theguidegalspodcast!

Yes, setting your wedding budget can be a B. We know you'd rather skip this step and go straight to the cake tasting, but creating (and sticking to) your budget is arguably the most important part of planning a wedding. And whether you're working with $100 or $100,000, there are some general guidelines that can help you decide what you can afford to spend, and what you'll want to save or splurge on. We've put together a Wedding Budget Checklist that includes the items most weddings entail, as well as the "typical" percentage of your budget you may want to reserve for each one. HUGE caveat: The percentages included are solely based on industry averages and may not be right for you. Feel free to adjust them according to your needs and priorities—just make sure your adjustments add up to 100%.

Find all of our show notes and episode information here!

We hope this helps! We are here for you in this major part of the process and can't wait to continue to walk alongside you the rest of the way ❤️  Check out https://theguidegalspodcast.com/ for the free downloadable + follow us on socials @theguidegalspodcast to see more planning info and behind-the-scenes content ✨