Get ready to plan your dream 2025 wedding with the latest trends! In this episode of The Wedding Planning Collective Podcast, I’m breaking down the bold, beautiful, and creative ideas shaping weddings in 2025. From playful design elements to fresh ceremony setups, I’ll share everything you need to know to make your big day unforgettable.

Whether you’re embracing vibrant colors, exploring kitschy decor, or looking to break away from tradition, this episode is packed with inspiration and tips to help you bring your unique wedding vision to life.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The top design and decor trends for 2025 weddings.
• Why bold patterns, gold accents, and kitschy details are taking over.
• Creative ways to rethink traditional wedding setups and party roles.
• How to incorporate playful and personal touches into your wedding.
• Practical advice for working with vendors to make your vision a reality.

Key Trends We Discuss:

• Design & Decor: Bold patterns, textured linens, gold accents, and watercolor palettes.
• Ceremony Details: Unique setups like winding aisles and ceremonies in the round.
• Fashion: Cascade bouquets, basque waistlines, and playful accessories.
• Reception Ideas: Neon signs, signature drink towers, and photo booth props.
• Party Dynamics: Non-matching wedding party outfits and skipping the traditional head table.

Links and Resources:

• Free Wedding Planning Guides: Download Here
• Join the Wedding Planning Collective Facebook Group: Join Now
• Full Episode Notes: Visit PlanningCollective.com

Follow Along:

Stay updated on all things wedding planning by following me on social media!

• Instagram: @PlanningCollectively
• TikTok: @PlanningCollectively

If you loved this episode, I’d appreciate it if you could rate and review the podcast—it helps other couples find the inspiration and guidance they need to plan their perfect wedding!

Family photos are one of the most cherished parts of your wedding day—but they can also be one of the most stressful! In this episode of The Wedding Planning Collective Podcast, I’ll walk you through my top tips for managing family photos with ease. From organizing the photo list to navigating family dynamics, I’ll help you plan ahead to make this part of the day frustration-free.

You’ll learn how to plan your timing, create a detailed shot list, and communicate effectively with your photographer and family members. Plus, I’ll share practical tips to prioritize the photos that matter most and keep things running smoothly.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The best time and location for family photos.
• How to create and organize your family photo list.
• Tips for managing family dynamics and group logistics.
• Communication strategies to keep everyone on the same page.
• Ways to prioritize key photos if time is tight.

Links and Resources:

• Family Photo Worksheet: planningcollective.com/family-photos
• Wedding Planning Collective Facebook Group: Join Here
• Free Wedding Planning Guides: Download Now

If you found this episode helpful, please rate and review the podcast—it helps other couples find the support they need.

Black Friday is here, and it’s the perfect time to snag incredible deals for your wedding! In this episode of The Wedding Planning Collective Podcast, I’m sharing my ultimate guide to shopping smart during Black Friday sales. From wedding party gifts to ceremony decor and DIY essentials, I’ll walk you through the best items to prioritize and give you tips to ensure you’re getting the best deals.

Whether you’re just starting to plan or prepping for your big day, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you save money while creating the wedding of your dreams. Don’t forget to grab the full list of recommended items at PlanningCollective.com/blackfriday!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The best categories to shop for wedding savings on Black Friday.
• Gift ideas for your wedding party, parents, and guests.
• How to stock up on beauty supplies and DIY materials.
• The must-have items for your ceremony and reception.
• Smart shopping tips to ensure you’re actually getting the best deals.

Links and Resources:

Full List of Black Friday Wedding Items

Wedding Planning Collective Facebook Group

Free Planning Guides

In this episode of the Wedding Planning Collective Podcast, I dive into the world of AI and explores how ChatGPT can make your wedding planning process smoother, faster, and more fun! But before you let AI take the reins, we’ll discuss when to lean into ChatGPT for help and when it’s better to rely on personal touches and pro advice.

From creating personalized vows to avoiding pitfalls with timelines, I share five ways to use ChatGPT effectively and three things to steer clear of. Whether you’re looking for wording inspiration, vendor questions, or budget basics, this episode covers it all!

Tune in for AI wedding planning advice you can trust!

Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction

02:30 – How ChatGPT is Changing Wedding Planning

05:15 – Top 5 Things to Use ChatGPT For

07:20 – Creating Wording & Phrasing for Your Wedding

10:30 – Finding Wedding Inspiration & Unique Ideas

13:45 – Using AI for Budgets & Checklists

16:10 – Crafting Questions for Vendors

19:00 – Brainstorming Hashtags & Fun Details

21:30 – 3 Things to Avoid Using ChatGPT For

22:50 – Why Your Wedding Timeline Needs a Personal Touch

26:00 – Budgeting Caution: AI as a Starting Point Only

28:20 – Avoiding AI for Vendor Selection

30:00 – Overview of Planning Collective’s Wedding Chat GPT Tool

32:15 – Closing Thoughts & Call to Action

Key Takeaways:

Top Uses for ChatGPT: Ideal for wording ideas, brainstorming, early budgeting, and building lists of vendor questions.

When to Avoid AI: Finalizing the wedding day timeline, budgeting precision, and finding vendors are best handled with a personal touch.

Special AI Tool for Wedding Planning: Check out the exclusive Wedding Chat GPT feature in the Planning Collective Membership!

Links Mentioned:

Planning Collective Membership for timeline reviews and expert guidance

Wedding Chat GPT Tool for trusted, AI-powered wedding advice

Join the Wedding Planning Collective Facebook Group to share your experience and connect with other engaged couples

Don’t Forget to Subscribe! If you found this episode helpful, please rate, review, and subscribe to the Wedding Planning Collective Podcast. Every bit of support helps others discover essential wedding planning tips.

Let’s connect on social!

Instagram: @planningcollectively

TikTok: @planningcollectively

In this episode of the Wedding Planning Collective Podcast, I dive into the exciting world of proposals! With engagement season right around the corner, I share my top 10 tips to help you plan the perfect proposal—whether you’re looking for a grand gesture or a more intimate moment.

If you’re the one hoping for a ring, go ahead and share this episode with someone who might need it. Let’s make sure you have everything you need to create a moment to remember!

Key Takeaways:

• How to ensure the timing is right before popping the question
• Why talking to your partner’s parents is still an important gesture
• Tips for choosing a ring, even if it’s just a placeholder
• How to plan a proposal that fits your partner’s personality
• The importance of capturing the moment with photos or video
• Making sure your partner feels confident and looks their best
• Who to include in your planning—and who to keep out of the loop!
• The value of practicing your proposal speech ahead of time
• Planning a celebration for after the big moment
• When to consider bringing in a professional planner for an extra-special proposal

Links Mentioned:

• The Box Sock: A clever way to keep the ring hidden until the big moment.
• Join the Wedding Planning Collective Facebook Group to share your proposal plans!

Join the Conversation:

Are you planning a proposal? Head over to the Wedding Planning Collective Facebook Group and let us know what your plans are. It’s a private group, so we promise not to ruin the surprise!

If you found this episode helpful, I would absolutely love it if you could take a quick second to rate and review. It helps more couples find the wedding planning resources they need!

Is the "Wedding Tax" Real? Debunking Wedding Planning Myths

In this episode of the Wedding Planning Collective Podcast, I dive into a controversial topic: the “wedding tax.” Inspired by a viral post on Threads where a bride claimed that the wedding industry is a scam, I wanted to take the opportunity to explore whether the “wedding tax” is real, or if there’s more to the story.

From DJs to photographers, hair and makeup to venues, I break down why weddings cost more than other events, like birthday or anniversary parties. She explains the extra time, equipment, and expertise that go into making a wedding day special.

While some vendors might charge more for weddings, it's not about ripping couples off—it’s about providing the personalized attention and professional service that weddings demand. I also offers practical tips on setting priorities and budgeting to ensure you get the most out of your wedding planning.

Key Takeaways:

• What the “wedding tax” really is, and why weddings can cost more than other events
• The extra time, expertise, and equipment that wedding vendors provide
• Common misconceptions about the wedding industry
• How to spot red flags and avoid vendors who take advantage of couples
• Why creating a budget and priorities list early on is essential for a stress-free wedding planning process

Related Links:

• Episode 3: How to Spot Wedding Vendor Red Flags
• Episode 100: Setting Your Wedding Day Priorities

Join the Discussion:

Is the “wedding tax” real, or is it just a misconception? Share your thoughts in the Wedding Planning Collective Facebook Group.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate, review, or subscribe—it helps more couples find the wedding planning advice they need.

In this episode of the Wedding Planning Collective Podcast, I revisit a question that was one of my first YouTube videos during the pandemic: Do you really need to bustle your wedding dress? While it might seem like an optional part of your dress alterations, let me explain why a bustle can make or break your reception experience!

From what a bustle actually is to why it’s critical for a smooth wedding day, we cover everything you need to know. Plus, I share my top tips for ensuring your bustle holds up, including how to make the process easier with a few behind-the-scenes tricks.

Key Takeaways:

• What a wedding dress bustle is and why it’s important
• The dangers of skipping a bustle for your reception
• Tips for making sure your bustle holds up on the dance floor
• How to choose the right style of bustle for your dress
• Bonus tips: Bring a crochet hook and make sure someone else knows how to bustle your dress!

Whether you're on the fence about a bustle or just looking to make sure your wedding day goes off without a hitch, this episode will help you make the best choice for your big day!

Links Mentioned:

• @weddingdance.school Instagram Reel

Join the conversation on the Wedding Planning Collective Facebook group and share your thoughts!

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to rate and review—it helps more couples find the podcast and get the advice they need.

In this episode of the Wedding Planning Collective Podcast, I tackle one of the most frequently asked questions about wedding registries: “How can we ask for cash instead of physical gifts?” While you can't directly ask for cash, I'll provide helpful strategies to guide your guests toward cash gifts without breaking any etiquette rules.

Before diving into those tips, I explore the benefits of having a wedding registry in general. Do you need one? What should you include? How can you nudge guests to give cash while keeping the peace with more traditional family members? You’ll learn how to balance physical gifts with creative cash registries and ensure you receive gifts you actually want and need.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of having a registry (even in 2024 & 2025!)
• How to mix physical and cash gift options for your wedding
• Why older guests might resist cash gifts and how to handle it
• The best cash registry platforms (Zola, Honeyfund, The Knot, and more)
• Tips for avoiding surprise fees with online cash registries

Whether you're just getting started with your registry or fine-tuning your cash gift requests, this episode has all the tips you need!

Links Mentioned:

• Zola
• Honeyfund
• The Knot
• Joy
• Hitchd

Join the conversation on the Wedding Planning Collective Facebook group!

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to rate and review the show—it helps more couples discover these helpful wedding tips!

Today, we're focusing on how to enjoy your wedding day to the fullest by being prepared for those stressful moments that are bound to pop up. In this episode, I'll be sharing my top 10 steps to ensure a stress-free wedding day. Whether you're in the early stages of planning or just days away from your big celebration, these tips will help you stay calm and collected. Let's dive in!

Grab your ⁠Don't Forget List here⁠!

Get more details on the ⁠Planning Collective Membership⁠ at ⁠PlanningCollective.com/Membership

With Amazon Prime Day just around the corner on July 16th and 17th, I've noticed a lot of excitement in wedding groups about what wedding-related items people are adding to their shopping lists.

In this episode, I'll share my top picks for wedding deals on Prime Day, from gifts for your wedding party to decor for your big day.

Don't worry about taking notes; you can find the full list on our latest blog post at PlanningCollective.com.

Key Takeaways:

Gift Ideas: Find great deals on gifts for parents and wedding party members, such as jewelry, robes, custom flasks, and more.

Beauty Supplies: Snag pre-wedding beauty essentials like face masks, teeth whitening products, serums, and hair treatments.

Welcome Bags: Stock up on supplies for hotel welcome bags, including snacks, hangover kits, and decorative items.

Ceremony/Reception Essentials: Look for discounts on detail photo props, ceremony decor, guest books, table numbers, and more.

Outdoor Wedding Supplies: Get prepared for any weather with deals on pedestal fans and umbrellas.

Tips for Prime Day Shopping: Verify pre-sale pricing, check return policies, and explore deals from non-Amazon retailers.

Additional Resources:

-Full list of recommended items on PlanningCollective.com-Episode 59 for advice on wedding favors

-Join the discussion and share your finds in the Wedding Planning Collective Facebook Group

Thank you for tuning in! If you found this episode helpful, please rate and review us on your favorite platform. It helps other couples find the resources they need to plan their perfect wedding. See you in the next episode!