Wedding Planning Podcast

Need a little help decoding the complex, often frustrating process of creating your wedding GUEST LIST?  Finalizing who will actually receive a wedding invitation is a process that will likely take some time, revisions, cuts, and LOTS of patience.

In this week's featured wedding planning meeting, we’re uncovering the KEY CHECKPOINTS to crafting a guest list that honors your wedding vision & budget, and reflects your top priorities.

Once your general wedding budget and a venue are decided on, compiling a finalized guest list is the next key step in the early stages of planning out your wedding celebration.

Family & friends are the centerpiece of our lives, and naturally you'll want to include your closest loved ones in this very special celebration.

That's the easy part ...

Planning your wedding involves a ton of strategic research & decision-making, yes - that’s the stuff you can look up on Google.  How to book a wedding photographer.  Cheap wedding invitations.  Top wedding venues in my area.   

But there’s an entirely separate dimension of your engagement & wedding planning journey, that you’ll hear me call “the all new way to plan your wedding” - and that’s all stuff that you can’t google. 

No internet search engine in the world knows your priorities, your personal values, or can spit out a truly personalized road map to the wedding that YOU WANT by typing a few words into a box.  You can’t google “how do I confidently sail through my engagement on-budget, stress-free, and loving the process?”  

Computers can do a lot, but they can’t replace the priceless value of human connection and introspection … that’s what the Wedding Planning Podcast is here for, and I hope you love today’s workshop on crafting your wedding guest list!  

A special thank you to this week's show sponsor, Susan's Travel Services:

Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email [email protected] . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Join thousands of INTENTIONAL + JOYFUL engaged couples who know that the wedding celebration of their dreams is possible ... even if right now, planning an entire wedding feels a *little bit* overwhelming!

Be sure to hit FOLLOW wherever you listen, and each Wednesday you'll enjoy a FREE, down-to-earth + straight-to-the-point wedding planning "meeting" where we explore everything from:

• Hidden TIME + MONEY + STRESS savers,
• Decoding the complex process of researching + hiring your team of IDEAL VENDORS,
• Identifying + incorporating your top VALUES into your celebration,
• Muting the noise + remaining laser-focused on a SMART PLANNING STRATEGY,
• ENHANCING YOUR RELATIONSHIP with your partner, your family + your loved ones,
• Monthly "Ask Anything" opportunities with your host, Kara
• And so much MORE!

I have an open door and love to hear your wedding questions, stories, thoughts & suggestions for upcoming episodes! You can be in touch anytime by visiting weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact

And speaking of our website, it's a great place to find past episode recaps, and special offers from our tight-knit community of incredible show sponsors. They literally make these free shows possible, and by supporting them, you are supporting your favorite wedding planning podcast, for which I am incredibly grateful.

If you'd like to go beyond the free weekly episodes and book a personalized 1-on-1 call, you can explore lots of flexible and affordable options by clicking here.

I know that you have literally millions of choices when it comes to online wedding planning content, and it's a huge honor to be a part of such a special time in your lives.

A huge congratulations on your engagement, and I can't wait to get started in the next episode!

This is not your average "wedding budget" conversation. 

Today's workshop-style meeting is designed to *magically* make possible ALL the wedding things that are most important to you ... regardless of how much money you actually have in your budget. 

Sounds amazing, right??? 

There are no percentage breakdowns on how much you "should" spend on what, no "average cost" conversations, and absolutely no judgement if you want to spend $5,000 on your wedding, and $10,000 on your honeymoon.  

It’s time for a NEW WAY to create your dream wedding celebration, where YOU, your values, and your priorities are at the center of every single decision you make from now until your wedding day, & beyond.

So let’s say goodbye to unrealistic, staged images on Pinterest of weddings in the forest that cost $32,000 - in decorations alone. 

It’s time to tune out the $72 billion dollar wedding industry’s agenda, and focus on a more fulfilled engagement season that centers around YOU.

THANK YOU for supporting this week's show sponsors!

Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email [email protected] . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more.

It all starts here!  Welcome to your Engagement / Wedding Planning Checklist, including 10 key "to-do's" to launch your wedding planning journey into action.

The days & weeks after saying "YES!" are a whirlwind of fun & excitement ...

From sharing the news with your loved ones, flashing that ring every chance you get, and dreaming of cakes and dresses, you're definitely at the start of an unforgettable time in your lives.

I’ve worked with thousands of engaged couples over the past 7 years of producing this podcast, and most of them are in autopilot mode already at this point in the planning process.

And unfortunately, those couples miss a much larger opportunity. 

An opportunity to wait patiently for their ideal wedding vision to unfold BEFORE going out and making big, irreversible decisions that end up really limiting what’s possible for them ... and I don’t want that for you.  

SO MUCH MORE inside today's free audio meeting, and be sure to visit the full blog post / show recap here.

THANK YOU to this week's show sponsors:

FREE Wedding Websites designed by independent artists?  Yes please!  Get started building your wedding website today with Minted Weddings & take advantage of exclusive listener perks on save the dates, invitations & more.

Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email [email protected] . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Tune in for a deep-dive into the wedding venue shopping process, including listener questions on everything from scheduling tours, budgeting, availability, all-inclusive options, and so much more!

Your wedding venue is THE biggest decision you’ll make during your engagement - and that can feel like a lot of pressure.  We're going to simplify & demystify the process in today's show so that you can confidently start shopping for the perfect venue to host your wedding celebration.

Grab your free "Venue Shopping Checklist" when you visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/wv

Thank you for supporting our valued show sponsors, who make these free weekly episodes a reality!

Factor is America’s #1 ready-to-eat meal delivery service, and I’m LOVING that I can skip the meal-planning, shopping, prepping, and clean up this holiday season.  You can try for yourself when you visit FACTOR MEALS and use code wedding50 to get 50% off.  

Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email [email protected] . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Your bachelorette party is a really fun engagement milestone AND it'll be a breeze to plan with these easy planning guidelines + sample itineraries! 

Today's show also includes lots of your questions on party etiquette, gift giving, who plans what, and even the "tale of two parties" ... two very different formats, each with their own pro's, and each guaranteed to result in an unforgettable night(s)!  

A special THANK YOU for supporting the show by supporting our valued show partners:

Get professional help planning your BACHELORETTE PARTY WEEKEND when you email [email protected] . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your final booking!

Visit Generation Tux, where you can build your suit & tuxedo looks from home, get free color swatches, a free Home Try-On, AND manage your entire wedding party online.

Gift your favorite bride 8 EASY + delicious meals when you visit factormeals.com/wedding50 and use code wedding50 to get 50% off!

Welcome to the Wedding Photography & Videography Masterclass, where you'll find everything you need to know to capture stunning photos throughout your wedding celebration, AND even your pre-wedding events and parties!

Your support of the Wedding Planning Podcast & all of our valued show sponsors means the world to me, and as a heartfelt thank you, I’m sharing totally free access to my Wedding Photography & Videography Masterclass.  

Sign up now, FOR FREE, when you visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/gift

We’re going to do an overview of this incredible resource today here on the podcast in audio format, but to gain access to over 12 bonus resources, including pdf guides, checklists, a video meeting and more, you’ll want to visit that link above. 

Yes it requires your email address, no I will not spam email you a hundred times a week, and no it does NOT require a credit card or any payment whatsoever.

Go ahead and mark "researching videographers" off your wedding to-do list, and check out Shutter & Sound Films at shutterandsound.com.  Let your wedding day be a cinematic masterpiece you'll revisit time and again!

Now you've got all the tools to take pro-quality photos wherever you go ... including YOUR HONEYMOON!  Get professional help planning your dream trip when you email [email protected] . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding.

Happy Thanksgiving!  This week, get inspired by the creative wedding decor projects that other listeners are tackling, and stay tuned for your questions in a special Wedding Decor Q&A:

• Should we rent decor, or buy stuff + DIY?
• Tips for furniture rentals, like lounge couches & chairs?
• One-stop shopping rec's for decor items?
• With decorations, what's a good balance between too much & not enough?
• Is it ok NOT to decorate for the rehearsal dinner?
• How can we make our venue's low ceilings feel higher?

Questions about decor, your wedding plans, or stories to share?  Be in touch! >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact

A HUGE thank you to today's show sponsors:

It's not just videography - it's cinematic artistry.  Get in touch with Shutter & Sound Films at shutterandsound.com, and let your wedding day be a cinematic masterpiece you'll revisit time and again.

Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email [email protected] . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Waaaayyyy too many engaged couples fail to plan for these ten sneaky little expenses that appear in the final months before the wedding!

Today we’re going to cover TEN unexpected budget busters, so that you're not caught off-guard - stuck making impulsive last minute decisions out of stress or lack of information.  

Be sure to stick around until the end of the show for a quick "BLACK FRIDAY / CYBER WEEK" segment on how to save big on all things wedding on Etsy! 

To view my favorites, visit: weddingplanningpodcast.co/etsy

Thank you for supporting this week's valued show sponsors:

My husband John is already loving the look & feel of his skin after just a couple of weeks of using "The Regimen" from men's skincare line, Caldera Lab.  Use code "WEDDING" for 20% off!

Visit Generation Tux, where you can build your suit & tuxedo looks from home, get free color swatches, a free Home Try-On, AND manage your entire wedding party online.

Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email [email protected] . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!

Submit your wedding questions & stories on our website!  www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact

In today's episode, I have an inbox full of your wedding planning questions, including:

• Are wedding fairs worth the time?
• How to pick a DJ?  No idea where to start!
• My dress is very heavy, with a dramatic long train.  Should I consider a separate reception dress for dancing? >>> My fave sites for reception party dresses >>> Shein & Lulus

• What are your thoughts on a NYE wedding?  We love the symbolism of beginning our lives together at the start of a new year, but the logistics of actually planning for NYE seems hard. 
• Struggling with creating a core wedding vision and building out from there.  I feel like we have so many ideas, but none of them are cohesive or go together.  Our wedding is set for Fall 2025.  Is there an easy place to start that I am simply missing?
• What’s a quick list of things to prioritize when shopping for venues?
• What are “hidden fees” to look out for with any venue or vendors?
• How do I specify number of people invited to the wedding when addressing the invitation envelope?

A special thank you to today's show sponsors:

It's not just videography - it's cinematic artistry.  Get in touch with Shutter & Sound Films at shutterandsound.com, and let your wedding day be a cinematic masterpiece you'll revisit time and again.

Get professional help planning your dream honeymoon when you email [email protected] . Don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast for $50 off your honeymoon OR $200 off your destination wedding!