Unveiling Paradise: Your Go-To Destination Wedding Podcast

FACT: A good wedding is actually not just one event, or even one day. A good wedding allows your guests to fully embrace their time together with you and your significant other, and what better time is there to lean into all that QT then at the rehearsal dinner? 

A couple things to note: A rehearsal is NOT the same as a rehearsal dinner. You don't need to do the rehearsal at the same time (or right before) the rehearsal. In fact, many couples are choosing to do their rehearsals in the morning the day before their wedding, take a break, then gather again with loved ones for the rehearsal dinner.

In this episode, Joe and I are going to talk about the following key topics:

• What exactly is a rehearsal dinner?
• What happens at the rehearsal dinner?
• Who pays?
• Who attends?

In addition to these high level questions, we'll dive into our own personal tips to make  your rehearsal dinner (and wedding weekend) as fun, memorable and stress free as possible. Tune in to learn more!

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Find Us on Instagram:
Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadise
Joe @josephesser
Tessa @fredandkateevents

Email us [email protected]
Web unveilingparadise.com

Planning a wedding is hard, but trying to decode all of the wedding day lingo is almost possible! From BEO to scullery, plus plus to bar back, and every other acronym under the sun... we're here to help. Together with Michele Ganiko, Associate Director of Catering at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, we discuss and decode some of the most common acronyms and phrases used during wedding planning.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by all of your wedding day options, this episode is a must for you! Michele, Joe and I deep dive into hotel wedding phrases and acronyms, outdoor venue lingo, and general wedding terms that you might not know (yet).

Our special guest for this episode:
Michele Ganiko, Associate Director of Catering
Hyatt Regency Waikiki

Do you have any other wedding terms or acronyms you think we should share? Email us at [email protected] and we'll answer your questions on an upcoming episode.

Support the show

Find Us on Instagram:
Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadise
Joe @josephesser
Tessa @fredandkateevents

Email us [email protected]
Web unveilingparadise.com

This is personally one of my favorite episodes - everything you need to know when interviewing wedding planners. When I have initial meetings with clients, they're often in the "deer-in-headlights-too-overwhelmed-to-know-what-to-ask" stage of wedding planning. Hiring a planner can be a huge relief, and a huge first step, but finding a good fit is crucial. 

How do you find that perfect fit? By asking the right questions! Prepare some information in advance (budget, guest count, preferred wedding date, and ideal vision), and be prepared to ask them your questions (if they don't answer them automatically for you).

Tune in to hear our full list of must-ask questions for all your wedding planner interviews. We're here to set you up for wedding planning success!  

Support the show

Find Us on Instagram:
Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadise
Joe @josephesser
Tessa @fredandkateevents

Email us [email protected]
Web unveilingparadise.com

It's the never ending wedding question - live band or a DJ? In this episode, we have Brian Webb, cellist and singer extraordinaire, from  LoveJack. While he's a one-man show, his looping skills (listen to the episode to find out what looping is all about) are legendary.

We go into depth with him and really make him answer some tough questions:
- How does a live musician fit into your wedding day?
- What costs more - a DJ or live music?
- Is a DJ or live band better?
- Can live musicians and DJs coexist at your wedding?

Not gonna lie... we asked him A LOT of questions. Tune in to hear Brian's answers, as well as our thoughts!

Brian Webb, aka LoveJack
Find him on Instagram: @lovejackmusic
Find him on his website: lovejack.us

Support the show

Find Us on Instagram:
Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadise
Joe @josephesser
Tessa @fredandkateevents

Email us [email protected]
Web unveilingparadise.com

This week's episode combines the best of both of our worlds - wedding day timelines and photography. In a good timeline,  the photography plays a key role in the day. 

As Joe mentions, there are  4 main parts of the day that can affect your timeline:
1. Getting ready/prep
2. Ceremony
3. Portraits/Formal Photos
4. Reception

Tessa looks at timelines from another angle - what do you want captured on your wedding day? Are you doing a first look? How large is your wedding party? What time is sunset and does this matter to you?

How do we take two very different planning perspectives and pull them together into a comprehensive wedding day timeline? Tune in to hear all about it!  

Support the show

Find Us on Instagram:
Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadise
Joe @josephesser
Tessa @fredandkateevents

Email us [email protected]
Web unveilingparadise.com

Listen... As much as you communicate with your guests and think you've given them all the info they'll ever need for your wedding, there will ALWAYS be the barrage of questions on your wedding day. 

What time is the wedding? 
How do we get there? 
Is there a dress code? 
Can I bring my new friend I just met last night? 

OMG, IT'S A LOT. 

So how do you best prepare your guests to allow you to have a relaxing, calm wedding day? Tune in to this week's episode as we acknowledge (and answer) some of the most frequently asked questions that your guests will have. If you prepare these answers in advance, it will set you and your wedding day up for blissful success! 

Support the show

Find Us on Instagram:
Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadise
Joe @josephesser
Tessa @fredandkateevents

Email us [email protected]
Web unveilingparadise.com

If you're debating whether or not you need videography for your wedding - tune in to this week's episode. Joe and I have some BIG FEELINGS about this topic, and you're gonna want to hear our thoughts.

Tessa's key takeaways:

• Everyone tells me "I'll never watch my video again" or "I don't want to watch myself - it's so cringey" BUT, what if we tell you this video isn't about you?
• I watch my video to see my grandma laughing at my wedding (she passed away about 3 years after my wedding).
• My daughter watches my video (not me!!) to see my and my husband on our wedding day.

Joe's key takeaways:

• Working with a company that can do both photo and video is a major WIN-WIN. They work together seamlessly like a well oiled machine.
• If you're hiring 2 separate companies, find a photographer and videographer who have a mutual respect for each other and understand the value they both add to the client's wedding day.

You may not want a video of you for YOU to watch, but we promise that one day in the future, you'll wish you could see someone's raw emotions - parents, grandparents, friends or another loved one. That's what a wedding video gives you.

At the end of the day, the only takeaways you'll have from your wedding are: your photos, your videos, your podcast BFFs, and the lifetime friendship you have with your wedding planner! :) 

Support us: patreon.com/unveilingparadise

Support the show

Find Us on Instagram:
Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadise
Joe @josephesser
Tessa @fredandkateevents

Email us [email protected]
Web unveilingparadise.com

If you're deep in the midst of your wedding planning, we're positive that you've seen a preferred vendor list - this could be either from your wedding planner, your venue, or even one of your other many vendors. Caterers partner with staffing and bar companies, photographers will refer videographers that they work collaboratively with, and venues will often require you to work with specific tried and true vendors that have been thoroughly vetted through them.

Is this a good thing, or not? We personally think having a select list of vendors to choose from who have worked together, understand the rules, and play nicely together is 100% a good thing. In today's episode, we have Stuart Kotake, the Director of Catering and Sales for the Waikiki Collection, talking about why selecting your vendors from a Preferred (or in his words - Partner) vendor list is truly a win for your wedding! Tune in to hear his expertise on this often polarizing topic.

Support us: patreon.com/unveilingparadise

Stuart Kotake, Director of Catering and Sales at the Waikiki Collection (hotels and resorts listed below):
Royal Hawaiian Resort Waikiki
Moana Surfrider Hotel
Sheraton Waikiki
Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel

Find Us on Instagram:
Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadise
Joe @josephesser
Tessa @fredandkateevents

Email us [email protected]
Web unveilingparadise.com

Support the show

Find Us on Instagram:
Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadise
Joe @josephesser
Tessa @fredandkateevents

Email us [email protected]
Web unveilingparadise.com

The Electric Slide, Macarena and Mr. Brightside - are these on your MUST PLAY or DO NOT PLAY song list for your wedding day? In this episode, DJ Kevo chats with us about songs to create your perfect wedding day playlist - from the ceremony, through cocktail hour, to the very last song of the night - we're here to help you find the right tunes to fit your vibe! So whether you're into 90s gangster rap like Tessa, or a polka party like Joe, a good wedding DJ will make sure your weddings songs are the right fit for you. If you're working on your wedding day playlist, this is an episode you don't want to miss!

Support us: patreon.com/unveilingparadise

Find Bliss DJs Hawaii (aka, DJ Kevo) here: @blissdjshawaii

Find Us on Instagram:
Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadise
Joe @josephesser
Tessa @fredandkateevents

Email us [email protected]
Web unveilingparadise.com

Support the show

Find Us on Instagram:
Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadise
Joe @josephesser
Tessa @fredandkateevents

Email us [email protected]
Web unveilingparadise.com

DIY, or D-I-Why?? Everyone who has ever gotten married, is getting married, or has thought about a budget knows that this *somewhat dangerous* thought will pop into your head at least once during your wedding planning... Can I DIY elements of my wedding and save money? (For those wedding planning newbies... DIY = Do It Yourself)

If you've ever considered DIY-ing parts (or all) of your wedding, this episode is for you!

Support us: patreon.com/unveilingparadise

What should you consider before DIY-ing your wedding?

• Time - How much time do you actually have? Are you enlisting friends/family to help? How much time do they have?
• Talent - How crafty are you, really? 
• Treasure - At the end of everything, how much money are you actually saving?

Are there specific areas that make more sense to DIY vs others?  Listen in to hear Joe and Tessa's thoughts about each wedding category, including wedding planning, making your own food, and using disposable cameras instead of hiring a pro!

Are there easier items to DIY than others? We share a list of items that make sense to DIY vs our big time NO WAYs. :) 

Find Us on Instagram:
Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadise
Joe @josephesser
Tessa @fredandkateevents

Email us [email protected]
Web unveilingparadise.com

Support the show

Find Us on Instagram:
Unveiling Paradise @unveilingparadise
Joe @josephesser
Tessa @fredandkateevents

Email us [email protected]
Web unveilingparadise.com