Unbridely - Modern Wedding Planning

The big group photo. Your wedding photographer might be quietly dreading it. Your guests have mentally clocked where the bar is. And the chances of everyone having their eyes open at the same time are roughly fifty-fifty at best. So is it actually worth it?

By the end of this episode you will know:

• The recent history of the big group photo and how it changes how you think about it
• Why so many photographers have complicated feelings about this shot and what it really costs you on the day
• How the acceleration of wedding trends is reshaping what couples want from their photography, and
• What the legacy value of the big group photo actually is. 

You will also find out 4 questions you can ask yourself and your fiance to make sure your choice of the big group photo is an informed choice rather than a default tradition. 

RESOURCES

178: 8 Brilliant Wedding Tweaks From My Smart Couple (And How To Steal Them) 

Ep38: Yes You Need a Photo Captain (or 2) and This Is Why with Valentina Perez Studio

Luke John Photography

Marcel Van Der Horst Photography

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

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This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Unbridely’s ebook How To Write Wedding Vows That Don’t Suck 

https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds

This is for YOU if you want to write the unique and heartfelt wedding vows your fiancé deserves, but don't know where to start. 🤔

AND want to get it done in 20 minutes or less. 💪

Grab your instant pdf download of the Unbridely ebook 'How To Write Wedding Vows That Don't Suck' for just $27 now! 🧡

https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds

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Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
[email protected]

How can you be sure you’re planning a wedding that your family and friends will actually enjoy?

In my job as a celebrant here in Australia this wedding season, I’ve been reminded of some of the basics of wedding planning and how, frequently, it doesn’t matter how big or modest your budget is. 

These concepts are about making a welcoming and comfortable space for your guests so they want to stay, and in fact, when the lights come on after last drinks have been called:

1)        There’ll still be people there and

2)       There’ll be an audible groan that the celebrations have come to an end.

Today I’m sharing the top 10 things that wedding guests secretly hate, but won’t complain about (to you, at least). 

Resources: 

EP85: Is A Seating Chart Absolutely Necessary For Your Wedding?

Ep34: How to Give an Amazing Wedding Speech (even if you're really nervous) with Authentically Funny Speeches

Ep67: How To Write A Memorable And Gracious Wedding Speech For Your Own Wedding with Authentically Funny Speeches

Australian National Support: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-crisis-support#:~:text=Lifeline%20%E2%80%94%20call%2013%2011%2014,or%20with%20thoughts%20of%20suicide

Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html

New Zealand: https://1737.org.nz/

United Kingdom: https://www.spuk.org.uk/national-suicide-prevention-helpline-uk/

United States of America: https://988lifeline.org/

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast 

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

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This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Easy Name Change.

You simply choose which companies you need to notify, and they send you detailed process instructions for each of your companies, plus ready to send forms, letters, and emails, so you just attach your marriage certificate to them and you're done!

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Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
[email protected]

Have you ever received a wedding invitation and felt a ping of disappointment when you saw it was on a Wednesday? The excitement for your friend was real, but so was the mental load that followed. 

In this episode, we talk about weekday weddings from both the guest and engaged couple’s side of the situation. While the cost savings of a weekday wedding can be significant (like 30-40% off the venue alone), they come with real trade-offs for your guests. 

Couples who are considering a weekday wedding need to go into their planning with all the info they can get their hands on. From attendance rates and format options to handling family pushback, this episode gives you everything you need to decide whether a weekday wedding is genuinely right for you. 

Resources Mentioned:

RSVPify 83% baseline figure for standard weddings, based on their analysis of millions of wedding RSVPs: https://rsvpify.com/wedding-rsvps-guest-count-numbers-infographic/

Industry planning guideline: 65-75% weekday attendance estimate and 30% weekday venue cost reduction from Saturdays. 

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

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This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Never Miss Moments Unbridely's recommended wedding guest photo and video-sharing tool. With your unique QR code, your family and friends can quickly, easily and securely share their snaps with you in your personalised online gallery.

Visit nevermissmoments.com/unbridely to receive your 10% discount on your gallery.

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Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
[email protected]

You are not the only one deep in research rabbit holes at midnight while your partner sleeps soundly beside you. Wedding planning imbalance is one of the most common (and quietly exhausting) experiences during engagement, and almost nobody talks about it honestly without adding a punchline at the end. 

In this episode, we get into why one partner so often ends up carrying the bulk of the wedding planning load, what it actually costs you if it goes unaddressed, and the practical strategies that help you share the responsibilities more fairly. Real direction, honest discussion tips, and a more generous way of understanding why your partner might be less involved than you need them to be.

Because the goal is to arrive at your wedding day feeling like you planned it together, rather than just surviving it. 

RESOURCES

Gender imbalance in wedding planning

• Brides / Wedding Planner Institute stat (54% brides, 25% grooms): https://weddingplannerinstitute.com/37-statistics-for-wedding-planners-in-2021/
• WeddingWire 2020 Newlywed Report: https://go.weddingwire.com/newlywed-report/2020
• Norwegian millennials study (Ellingsæter, 2023): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00016993221074826

Decision fatigue

• The Decision Lab (accessible overview, well cited): https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/decision-fatigue
• PMC concept analysis (academic): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6119549/

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

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This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by WedSites.com, Unbridely's recommended all-in-one wedding website builder, guest management platform & wedding planning tool.

Visit WedSites.com to get started on your FREE wedding website and use code UNBRIDELYPOD to get 10% off any of their paid plans.

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
[email protected]

Most engaged couples pick a wedding catering format the same way they pick a venue: because it just felt right, or someone recommended it. But the format you choose shapes everything from the energy in the room, to how long they stay at your wedding and, maybe most importantly, how much you spend.

Josh de Haas from Chopping Board Catering, one of South Australia's most in-demand wedding caterers, breaks down every major catering format/style in plain terms. Shared platters, plated sit-down, cocktail roaming, food stations, and buffet, including what each one actually feels like, what it costs, and which one is right for your guests.

In this episode you will learn

•      the most popular catering formats and the honest pros and cons of each

•      why buffets have had their day (and what to do instead)

•      the catering format that suits big families, mixed generations, and tight timelines

•      what cocktail-style weddings get wrong (and how to do them right)

•      the TikTok food trend Josh's team gets asked for all the time (that they have to turn down)

•      how to get a generous, high-quality feed on a tighter budget, plus

•      what to ask a potential caterer before you sign anything. 

RESOURCES

Chopping Board Catering: www.choppingboardcatering.com.au

@chopping_board_catering on Instagram

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Unbridely’s ebook How To Write Wedding Vows That Don’t Suck 

https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds

This is for YOU if you want to write the unique and heartfelt wedding vows your fiancé deserves, but don't know where to start. 🤔

AND want to get it done in 20 minutes or less. 💪

Grab your instant pdf download of the Unbridely ebook 'How To Write Wedding Vows That Don't Suck' for just $27 now! 🧡

https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
[email protected]

Over half of couples planning a wedding right now are using AI, and most of them have no idea where it's quietly leading them astray.

In this episode, Camille cuts through the hype for an honest, experience-backed take on AI in wedding planning. She breaks down exactly where AI earns its place in your planning toolkit, why it's structurally designed to tell you what you want to hear rather than what you need to know, and what 18 years of working in the industry has taught her that no AI can replicate.

Plus: the Destination Planner Principle, a simple way of thinking that will change how you evaluate every vendor, every recommendation, and every AI-generated answer for the rest of your planning.

RESOURCES 

Zola 2026 First Look Report: zola.com/expert-advice/the-first-look-report-2026

The Knot 2026 Trends to Watch: theknotww.com/blog/future-of-marriage-2026-trends-to-watch-report

Axios: Limits to Wedding Planning with AI: axios.com/2026/03/29/wedding-planning-ai

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

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This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Easy Name Change.

You simply choose which companies you need to notify, and they send you detailed process instructions for each of your companies, plus ready to send forms, letters, and emails, so you just attach your marriage certificate to them and you're done!

More info on how to change your name after you get married: https://unbridely.com/blog/name-change-after-marriage 

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
[email protected]

What makes a wedding truly unforgettable? HINT: it's rarely the budget. 

It's the small, intentional decisions that show your guests (and yourselves) that you really care about their experience and comfort.

In this episode, I break down 8 specific tweaks that my couple, Tess and Michael, did differently that completely transformed the vibe and energy of their wedding day. 

Every single idea is practical, doesn’t cost a fortune, is stealable, and available to you right now.

Resources Mentioned:

Watch Tess and Michael’s cocktail hour entrance reel: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWf_9DjCadZ/

EP38: Yes, You Need a Photo Captain (or 2) and This Is Why with Valentina Perez Studio

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Never Miss Moments Unbridely's recommended wedding guest photo and video-sharing tool. With your unique QR code, your family and friends can quickly, easily and securely share their snaps with you in your personalised online gallery.

Visit nevermissmoments.com/unbridely to receive your 10% discount on your gallery.

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
[email protected]

More and more couples are choosing to offer a thoughtful non-alcoholic bar menu at their wedding; not as a restriction, but as a genuine upgrade in hospitality. 

Today Camille breaks down exactly how to design a mocktail menu that stands on its own: how to name it (with 10 options you can steal), how to tie it to your love story, make it visually beautiful, and brief your bar staff so it's actually offered with confidence. She also shares 3 of her favourite mocktail recipes and how to present them for maximum impact and Tiktol ready shares.

Plus: the 4 actionable steps you can take this week to go from 'soft drinks on the side' to a signature sips menu your guests will be raving about.

RESOURCES

NCSolutions 2025 Sober Curious Survey :

prnewswire.com/news-releases/nearly-half-of-americans-plan-to-drink-less-alcohol-in-2025-up-44-from-2023-according-to-ncsolutions-302354616.html

Berenberg Research, via Fortune (December 2025):

fortune.com/2025/12/13/gen-z-drinking-20-percent-less-than-millennials-alcohol-productivity/

CNBC, via Sans Drinks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DKRoI6ihryd/

Lyre's Non-Alcoholic Spirits: lyres.com

Lyre's Amalfi Spritz recipe: lyres.com/products/lyres-non-alcoholic-spritz-mocktail-recipe

Lyre's Espresso Martini recipe: lyres.com/products/espresso-martini-mocktail-recipe

Lyre's Pink Gin Fizz recipe: lyres.com/products/pink-gin-fizz-mocktail-recipe

Sans Drinks: sansdrinksco.com.au

Canva — free menu card templates: canva.com

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by WedSites.com, Unbridely's recommended all-in-one wedding website builder, guest management platform & wedding planning tool.

Visit WedSites.com to get started on your FREE wedding website and use code UNBRIDELYPOD to get 10% off any of their paid plans.

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
[email protected]

Money is almost always a touchy topic in weddings, but in the current economic climate there's definitely an added feeling of pressure and expectations.

Making sure you have a wedding budget and are tracking expenses in a way that you are both happy with is crucial to a great wedding for sure, but even more so to the health and longevity of your marriage.

So if you're planning the most epic party of your life, but feeling the budget blues, I got you. Because in this episode, I'm gonna give you the insider tips and tricks you need to have your cake and eat it too (pun intended). 

Today I'm going to share: 

• info about your wedding budget and how it's not a fixed number that you set when you get engaged, and never think about again, 
• how you can prioritize where you're going to spend your hard-earned money while still sticking by your values, 
• the answer to the age-old question of DIY/amateur versus hiring a professional vendor, and
• 22 creative ways to make your dollar stretch further. 

RESOURCES

EP22:These 3 Important First Steps in Your Wedding Planning Change Everything

EP25: 5 smart things to do when you buy a pre-loved wedding dress + Felicia's experience with StillWhite

EP26: The Wedding Tax is Absolutely Real and Here's How You Can Avoid It

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Unbridely’s ebook How To Write Wedding Vows That Don’t Suck 

https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds

This is for YOU if you want to write the unique and heartfelt wedding vows your fiancé deserves, but don't know where to start. 🤔

AND want to get it done in 20 minutes or less. 💪

Grab your instant pdf download of the Unbridely ebook 'How To Write Wedding Vows That Don't Suck' for just $27 now! 🧡

https://unbridely.com/shop/htwwvtds

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
[email protected]

Have you wondered which traditions you should keep, ditch, or remix when you’re not a hetero-normative pair tying the knot?

Jesse from New York reached DMd me on Instagram, asking for some tips on his same-sex destination wedding in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

While this episode is tailored to Jesse’s questions, which include dilemmas around mixed gender bridal party titles, suggestions for outfits and styling, pitching the trip to his future in-law’s family (who are questioning the need, and expense, and why P-town feels more exciting, welcoming, and safe than NYC for the grooms), alternative traditions, and photo list suggestions. I know many hetero couples face the same family pushback when they dare to dream beyond the standard expectations or the usual local wedding celebration. 

It’s a tricky line to walk and there’s tough conversations to be had, but also real excitement and creativity about what’s possible, and how Jesse and his soon-to be-husband, Justin, can make their day their own. 

RESOURCES 

Ep 3: Tim & Simon - How to adapt hetero wedding traditions as a same-sex couple: https://open.spotify.com/episode/54FA4UyVJ4ViWimfqjP6r7

Ep169: 169: What a Love Party Really Is (And How to Plan One You’ll Actually Enjoy) with Amy Shack Egan: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7b5eLPHpvAPVDth5zhygGY

Lauren Ashley Grenda: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOSMp68jkA1/?igsh=MXJ5N2FudHRieW84aQ==

BCaptured by Ky Luu: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSHwYwbEqo7/?img_index=12&igsh=djdid21uZnViem9v

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDMX4vapMP_/?igsh=MTQyaHJobGl3OHBrMg==

Send Unbridely a 90-second audio message on Speakpipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/unbridelypodcast

*The Unbridely Podcast is sponsored by its listeners. When you purchase products or services through links on our website or via the podcast, we may earn an affiliate commission.*

------

This episode of the Unbridely Modern Wedding Planning Podcast is brought to you by Easy Name Change.

You simply choose which companies you need to notify, and they send you detailed process instructions for each of your companies, plus ready to send forms, letters, and emails, so you just attach your marriage certificate to them and you're done!

More info on how to change your name after you get married: https://unbridely.com/blog/name-change-after-marriage 

-----

Unbridely acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we record this podcast on, the Kaurna People. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Support the show

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbridely/
or TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unbridely

Email the Unbridely Podcast:
[email protected]