Choosing your wedding venue is the single most important decision you'll make during the planning process - and yes, that can feel like a lot of pressure.

Your venue isn't just the backdrop for your wedding day. It also sets the vibe, drives your budget, impacts your guest experience, and influences nearly every other decision you'll make from here on out. That's why this is not a decision to rush.

In today's episode of The Wedding Planning Podcast, we're breaking down exactly how to choose the right wedding venue with clarity and confidence - before you sign a contract or close doors you didn't even realize were there.

You'll learn:

• Why your wedding venue impacts every other planning decision

• How to define your wedding vision before you start touring spaces

• Smart ways to set yourself up for a successful venue search

• The most important questions to ask every potential venue

• The key differences between traditional and all-inclusive venues

• How to research and find the best wedding venues near you

We'll also talk through budget considerations, guest experience, logistics, décor implications, and how to trust your instincts when you walk into the one.

Blog post with pdf Venue Shopping Checklists

If you're newly engaged - or feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start - this episode will help you slow down, get clear, and make a venue decision that truly aligns with your vision, priorities, and budget.

A special thank you to this week's show sponsors:

• Start your wedding website with Minted and enjoy free designs by independent artists, all of your wedding details in one place, and exclusive listener perks: weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted

Setting a realistic wedding budget that actually works for you is one of the most important decisions you'll make after getting engaged, and it's one that sets the tone for every planning choice that follows.

If you're newly engaged and feeling overwhelmed by numbers, opinions, or online "averages" that don't feel realistic … or if you're already planning and realizing your budget needs a reset - you're in exactly the right place.

In today's episode, I'm walking you through a clear, step-by-step process for creating a wedding budget that reflects your priorities ... not the wedding industry's expectations.

We'll talk about how to define what matters most, allocate your money with intention, and build a financial plan that supports your vision - without all of the overwhelm and second-guessing.

Will wedding planning be completely free of financial stress? Probably not. But with the right framework in place, it can feel organized, intentional, and manageable - so that you're not always making decisions from a place of panic or pressure.

By the end of this episode, you'll have the clarity and confidence to move forward with a budget that truly works for you.

• Want to save time, money, and your sanity while planning your wedding?

Subscribe to Wedding Planning Podcast Premium on Apple Podcasts for early, ad-free access to all weekly episodes—plus a bonus series that teaches you how to use ChatGPT as your free wedding planning assistant.

Save hours, avoid overwhelm, and make confident decisions faster.

Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts and start planning with clarity.

• Thank you to today's show sponsor, Minted:

Just engaged and wondering where to start? One of the easiest first steps is your wedding website.

With Minted, you can build a free wedding website designed by independent artists - so it looks elevated without the custom-design price tag.

Everything lives in one place: your story, wedding details, RSVPs, and registry links - simple, clean, and stress-free.

Click here to get started today and unlock exclusive listener perks on save-the-dates, invitations, and more.

• Click Here to read the complete blog post and follow along with today's episode.

Just engaged and not sure where to start? This episode breaks down the exact first steps every newly engaged couple should take - plus the mistakes to avoid - so you can plan with clarity, confidence, and zero panic.

In today's episode, I'm walking you through the Ultimate Engagement Checklist: 10 must-do steps to take before you book venues, sign contracts, or lock yourself into decisions you'll regret later.

The days after getting engaged are exciting and overwhelming. Between sharing the news, flashing that ring, and daydreaming about dresses and cake, most couples accidentally slip into planning autopilot.

After working with thousands of engaged couples over 10 years, I've seen the same mistakes over & over: rushing into big decisions too soon - and limiting what's actually possible for their wedding.

This episode helps you slow down strategically, get grounded, and set yourself up for a wedding that truly reflects the two of you.

Inside this episode:

• The first things you should do after getting engaged (and what can wait)

• How to avoid common early planning mistakes that cost couples time, money, and options

• The mindset shift that leads to better decisions later

• A simple checklist to move forward with confidence - minus the overwhelm

Think of this as a free audio planning meeting to help you start smart and stress less.

Early access to new episodes + bonus planning resources are available inside WPP Premium on Apple Podcasts. Tap "Subscribe" for instant acess.

Links & Resources

• Engagement ring insurance: Is it right for you?

• Start your wedding website with Minted and enjoy free designs by independent artists, all your details in one place, and exclusive listener perks: weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted
• Click here for a full written recap of today's episode.

Wedding planning shouldn't feel overwhelming - but for most of us, it does.

In this episode, we're building a clear, confident action plan to help you navigate the 6 biggest stress points couples face early in their engagement, without the spiraling, second-guessing, or family drama.

We're covering: • "Where do we even start??" → Mini-Workshop: Defining Your Wedding Vision + Priorities • Budget overwhelm • Finding the right venue • Guest list tension • Family dynamics & expectations • Booking vendors with confidence

Today's show is a high-level roadmap to help you feel grounded and in control. Over the coming weeks, we'll take a deep dive into each of these topics so you can move forward with clarity - one decision at a time.

Want more support? Get early, ad-free access to all 6 feature episodes when you subscribe to Wedding Planning Podcast Premium on Apple Podcasts.

Premium subscribers also unlock an exclusive bonus series that shows you exactly how to use ChatGPT as a free wedding planning assistant - saving hours of research, making confident decisions faster, and keeping your budget on track.

Just tap Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to get instant access.

Enjoy the show!

Additional Links & Resources:

• Start your wedding website with Minted and enjoy free designs by independent artists, all of your wedding details in one place, and exclusive listener perks: weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted
• Questions, feedback, or future episode ideas? Reach out anytime at weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact
• Click here for a full written recap of today's episode

The little dollar bill emoji with flapping wings is a great one-tap summary of planning a wedding. Budgeting for expected expenses is hard enough, let alone all of the little unexpected stuff that sneaks in along the way!

Today we're going to shine a light on 16 annoying + unexpected expenses that couples don't plan for, so that you can adjust your budget early on and not be taken by surprise in the coming months.

Full blog post for today's show can be found here.

Thank you for sharing the show with someone who is helping you plan!

Wedding questions, stories to share, or requests for a future episode? I always have an open door and would love to hear from you >>> weddingplanningpodcast.com

Cheers to you! Kara

These listener scenarios that may seem a bit crazy on the surface … but in reality offer a great chance to maximize the quality AND the value of your wedding celebration!

As you're putting together plans for your wedding, there are endless creative opportunities for you to deploy a unique, offbeat solution to what may seem like a standard wedding checklist item.

So many couples subconsciously equate a higher price tag with a higher-quality end product or service, and that's simply not always true. Worse, that mentality can add up to spending tens of thousands of dollars more than necessary to host a memorable and meaningful wedding celebration.

The $10,000 dollar question is how can we develop an instinct for when it makes sense to invest more money for a higher quality experience, and when taking a less expensive route will be just fine?

That's what we're going to highlight today with a few listener scenarios that may seem a little crazy on the surface … but in reality offer a great chance to maximize the quality AND the value of the end-result.

Tune in for inspiration from other Wedding Planning Podcast listeners who had a kinda-crazy sounding idea ... and hear what worked, and what didn't!

Enjoy early access to ad-free episodes each week when you subscribe to WEDDING PLANNING PODCAST PREMIUM in Apple Podcasts.

Happy Friday, and welcome to another BONUS Q&A follow up show to this week's feature episode, "How To: DIY Appetizers & Charcuterie Board" show that aired on Wednesday Dec 24th.

Today is a mix of behind-the-scenes insight from me, your reception-related questions, and also a couple of hindsight wedding experiences to share from listeners who were recently married.

There's a ton of value packed into this 20 minute bonus show, and I hope you love it -

Enjoy the show!

The cost of food & drinks can be a huge source of frustration when planning your wedding. I can't tell you how many messages I get from couples who are utterly horrified by the per person fee for dinner & drinks - and rightfully so!

Today we're going to explore setting up your own appetizer spread, and I think you'll be blown away by the savings ... yes, up to 85% off the cost of a traditional wedding caterer.

Tune in for my detailed roadmap to appetizer / happy hour menu planning, shopping, and setting it all up.

We'll review how much to buy, where to shop, and what you can expect the total price tag to be for TWO different sample menu options.

We even cover the details that are often overlooked, so that your plan is airtight and nothing is missed.

Even if you are using a more traditional caterer for the main meal, doing your own appetizer spread is a wonderful way to customize the offering, UP the quality, AND save a ton of money. What's not to love?

Not allowed to bring outside food into your venue? This process for setting up a beautiful appetizer spread is also perfect for your bridal shower, welcome party, rehearsal dinner, or any other party you host in the future.

Be sure to bookmark it, and share this episode with a friend who's helping you plan!

Enjoy the full blog post: www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/cheese

Discover endless cocktail hour inspiration! https://www.pinterest.com/karasvinwedding/wedding-cocktail-hour/

Enjoy early access to ad-free episodes each week when you subscribe to WEDDING PLANNING PODCAST PREMIUM in Apple Podcasts.

Is it OK to ... ?

I got lots of mail in response to the Wedding Etiquette show that aired on 12.17.25, and in this Friday Follow Up Q&A I'm opening my mailbox and sharing your questions!

We'll talk through ...

• Inviting kids to the wedding,
• Requesting a specific dress code,
• A tiny wedding chappel that can't accomodate everyone,
• The etiquette surrounding your wedding parties,
• When to actually send Thank You notes, and lots more.

Enjoy,

And be in touch with your questions anytime at weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact

Are you drowning in wedding "etiquette guidelines"?

Everyone has an opinion on invitation wording, cash bars, inviting kids, wedding day transportation, and what traditions absolutely SHOULD be included in the wedding day. There's nothing like planning a wedding to suddenly have everyone you've ever known come out of the woodwork with their opinions, right?

Where wedding planning gets overwhelming is when ideas of what a wedding "should" look like are in conflict with our budget, our wants, and our personalities.

And of course, an added layer of stress arises when you and your partner come from different backgrounds, and one of you thinks paying $10,000 for a photographer is completely reasonable, and the other wants to spend $10,000 total on the entire wedding.

But no matter where you're from, I'm a firm believer in your wedding day being an expression and celebration of you & your partner. At the end of the day, you're making a really special commitment to one another, and looking to celebrate the occasion with your loved ones. That's it!

Spoiler alert, I don't necessarily have a right / wrong, ok / not ok answer for every single piece of wedding etiquette, because look, there is just so much gray area here. I could sit here all day and say, it's never ok to do that, it's always better to do that, but that's not actuality, that's not the world we live in.

I thought it would be helpful to take a list of common etiquette and rules that are flying around out there, and have a critical conversation about each one so that you can decide what's right for YOU. Which leads me perfectly into,

Please trust that you ALWAYS have the support from me to ditch what everyone else is doing, and craft your day, your way.

No this doesn't mean being blatantly rude or disagreeable to your family, or sneaking behind your partner to sabotage something that you know they really want, or failing to honor your guests who are committing significant time & resources to participate in your wedding and support you. Obviously use common sense, compromise and understanding throughout your engagement.

But these commonly held wedding etiquette rules & beliefs can by all means be adjusted and updated to serve you and your unique priorities.

LINKS & RESOURCES mentioned in today's show:

Setting up a Facebook Group for your wedding guests

Some Couples Are Charging Their Wedding Guests to Attend