Wedding Planning Podcast

Your wedding gift registry is the perfect opportunity to upgrade your home & your lifestyle with practical gifts that you need and will use in the years to come. 

Tune in for an essential guide to creating a killer wedding gift registry including:

• Deciding what items to include and ...

• Items NOT to include on your registry,

• Various lifestyle "categories" to consider as you build your registry,

• Tips for creating cash gift funds,

• Your top wedding registry "wish list" items,

• And so much more!

For a complete written recap of today's show, visit weddingplanningpodcast.co/registry

A special THANK YOU to today's show sponsors:

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 booking!

Shop Etsy for one-of-a-kind wedding day details, personalized just for you >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/etsy

If you have the beginnings of a really creative wedding vision that you’d like to talk through to discuss overall feasibility, options, or pricing comparison, I have 1-on-1 wedding strategy calls available!  You can book your call today when you visit wedpodcast.com.

Lots of engaged couples are working with a small wedding budget and feeling completely overwhelmed, so they turn to free wedding checklists and timelines to stay organized … thinking all these freebie resources are the key to pulling off an incredible wedding for not a lot of money.  

But, what most couples never realize is that mindlessly following all those free guides and checklists will lead to you ultimately spending money on a bunch of crap that’s not even that important to you.  Let me back up.  

Wedding programs are on your checklist.  I mean, doesn’t every wedding have to have a ceremony program?  And your mom chimes in about menus, and place cards, and invitations with 3 enclosures, and RSVP cards and save the dates … And you see 3 different deals on Instagram, Facebook, and in an email from that wedding website for free samples, 50% off your order, and beautiful all-in-one custom invitation suites that match every wedding theme perfectly!  

Aaaaaaaannnnnd all of the sudden you realize that you’ve spent $1000 on paper products that you could really care less about - all because they were on the checklist, they were on sale, and let’s be real, you didn’t want to disappoint your mom.  

Is following that free wedding checklist really a good idea?

Wouldn’t it have been much easier to press pause and acknowledge at the start that you don’t care about ceremony programs, and therefore you’re just going to skip them altogether?  Same with the other $900 worth of paper products?

And that example was something pretty small, like wedding programs - what happens when you book a $6,000 videographer because that’s what everyone does right, you have to have a videographer - {you’re totally gonna regret it if you don’t have the most important day of your life on film - there’s a little voice in the back of your head that knows you could come up with a workaround, that you don’t really need or care if you have a cinematic movie theatre quality film of your wedding …. But you’re gonna go with the flow, because you only get married once in theory and this is just what everyone does.}

And that credit card statement just keeps on growing, full of stuff that doesn’t really matter to you, but the checklist said so, so you did it.  Flowers.  A fancy cake.  Favors.  Expensive place settings and charger plates, and chair slip covers and table linens. 

Is this really where you want to be?  Feeling pressured & judged by a free wedding checklist?  

If you’re like me, and you want to keep things simple and affordable while at the same time pulling off an unforgettable wedding that’s FULL OF MEANING, then you know that driving yourself crazy trying to fulfill every single thing on that freebie wedding checklist isn’t the answer.  

Ready for the new way?  Tune in to today's full episode to learn exactly how to create your own PERSONALIZED wedding checklist that highlights ONLY your most important priorities ... and gain the freedom that comes when you say NO to everything else.

Our conversation today is just the beginning of creating a well-defined wedding vision that will be your north star compass throughout the rest of your engagement. 

Formulating your wedding vision is a priceless investment of your time, and it sounds simple enough - but it’s not always easy to separate ourselves from feelings of judgment, doubt, and unrealistic expectations. 

If you’d like some one-time help, OR ongoing guidance for bringing your wedding vision to life, visit wedpodcast.com for details on how we can work together in a personalized, 1-on-1 setting.

SUSAN'S TRAVEL SERVICES | Would you LOVE to take advantage of expert honeymoon planning services for your all-inclusive, cruise, or exotic honeymoon AND get $50 off when you book? Simply email [email protected] to get started!

Being the "Overwhelmed Engaged Couple" is not a ton of fun.

They say things like, "wow, our whole wedding day FLEW BY and we barely had a chance to enjoy it."

This couple feels panic every time a new vendor quote comes in.

Overwhelmed every time they open their email or even think about all the items on their checklist.

Dread over finding out how much the next thing is going to cost.

Fear over being judged for what they choose - and don't choose - to include in their wedding celebration.

Ahem, I have a question 🙋🏼‍♀️ ... how is feeling overwhelmed & anxious about all that outside noise going to help YOU plan an unforgettable wedding experience that celebrates your marriage and your love in a once-in-a-lifetime event with all the people closest to you?

Your engagement season is too special to sit back & let it slip by in a cloud of overwhelm and frustration.

Right now, you have a choice.

You can continue down the rabbit hole of OVERWHELM - of “perfect weddings” on social media, a million wedding websites telling you to do a million different things, noisy chatrooms, crappy blogs, free checklists and timelines on Pinterest and DIY’ers on You Tube telling you how to plan your entire wedding for $100.00.

Honestly, that’s what most brides and grooms choose, and they stay stuck in a frenzy of anxiety & overwhelm all the way through the wedding day itself.

They miss a beautiful opportunity to connect with one another, to live their engagement season in lightness and joy, and love.

But YOU have a choice.

You can CHOOSE be the engaged couple who presses pause on all that noise, and gets your mindset and your values in alignment with the vision YOU have of your perfect wedding celebration .... so that you can create an engagement season AND a wedding celebration full of lightness, love and joy.

That sounds much better, right?

If that’s you, then tune in to today's show where I’m going to show you exactly how to EMBRACE who you are, PRIORITIZE what you value, and bring it all together in a life-changing wedding celebration for you & your loved ones.

It’s time to say “YES” to a more joyful engagement season, and I’m incredibly grateful to be a part of it 🙏.

Cheers to you,

Kara

Our conversation today is just the beginning of creating a well-defined wedding vision that will be your north star compass throughout the rest of your engagement. 

Formulating your wedding vision is a priceless investment of your time, and it sounds simple enough - but it’s not always easy to separate ourselves from feelings of judgment, doubt, and unrealistic expectations. 

If you’d like some one-time help, OR ongoing guidance for bringing your wedding vision to life, visit wedpodcast.com for details on how we can work together in a personalized, 1-on-1 setting. 

Creating a simple, info-packed WEDDING WEBSITE is the easiest, most hassle free way to easily share information with your wedding guests.  Join me today for a detailed wedding planning workshop on exactly how to create an amazing wedding website - zero technical skills required! 

To get started, choose your wedding website design from an incredible community of independent artists & designers when you visit Minted Weddings.

FREE Minted wedding websites include all the tools you need to get started, and you’ll even receive a $50 credit towards your wedding stationery when you visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/website.

In today's show, we're covering what to include on your website, what not to include, and lots of priceless details on how to leverage this incredible tool to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER over the coming months.  

I also have a really fun & interactive extension of your website that will make connecting with your guests a breeze between now & wedding day.

Even if you’ve already got a wedding website up & running, I hope you’ll stick around for today’s conversation -

I have lots of important website elements to share that many couples miss, and I want you to be able to leverage your wedding website to your FULL ADVANTAGE over the next few months ... making your life easier, and of course, your guests’ lives easier as well!

A quick outline of what we're going to cover in today's meeting:

• Home Page

• Events

• Travel & Accommodations

• FAQ Page

• Your Story

• Wedding Party

• RSVP Details

• Links to your registry

• & don't miss my BONUS TIP for keeping in close contact with your wedding guests throughout the coming months via a private Facebook Group!  Here's a link that explaings exactly how to set one up.

PS - A special thank you to today'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!

Affordable & beautiful Save the Date announcements and wedding invitations - how hard can that be??

Well, if you’ve spent 3 hours on a Saturday getting lost down the rabbit hole of 9 different wedding invitation websites, then you know that finding a practical solution that fits your style and your budget is much easier said than done.  

Today I’m sharing a complete guide to wedding stationery, from Save the Dates to invitations.  We'll even review all of those mysterious extras like fancy paper type, additional enclosures, wax seals, envelope liners, and more.

 And if you’re on a budget and looking to keep your invites as minimal and affordable as possible, I’ve got some exclusive listener savings to share totaling over $300!  See below for links & resources.

LINKS + SPECIAL OFFERS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

25% off Save the Date announcements >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/minted

830+ Wedding Invitations w/ matching website, Save the Dates, QR code & extras >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/invite

$50 stationery credit to use towards your save the dates and / or invitations when you create a wedding website >>> weddingplanningpodcast.co/website

BONUSES!

Get a FREE Wedding Planning Journal from our friends at Minted when you click here

Redeem your FREE Wedding Invitation Sample Kit here

And of course, an extra special thank you to 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!

Great news - you don’t need to be a professional designer or natural-born artist to select a beautiful & cohesive color palette for your wedding celebration. 

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we’re running through 5 easy steps for choosing the colors to incorporate into your rehearsal, ceremony & reception.

A lightening speed recap:

1. Start w/ your venue to guide your color selection,

2. Get color inspiration for your Save the Dates & wedding website - the first design elements your guests will actually see! I've linked 78 Save the Date options with beautiful sample color palettes here.​

3. Tips for using Pinterest to your advantage,

4. Consider your potential colors actually being worn by your wedding party,

5. And of course, KEEP IT SIMPLE!

Enjoy the show!

PS - I’ve been sharing my signature wedding planning advice on the podcast for 8 years now, and for the first time EVER, I’ve opened up my door to 1-on-1 Wedding Strategy Calls!  

Whether you’re looking for just one session to get your wedding plans started, or a series of ongoing support calls throughout your engagement, I’m here for you.  Get the details & book your first call today when you visit wedpodcast.com.  

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!

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.

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we're joined by Susan from Susan's Travel Services to talk all things DESTINATION WEDDING!

Tune in for the full scoop on this HOT wedding hosting trend, including:

• The surprise average cost of a destination wedding - and the huge TIME, STRESS & MONEY-saving opportunities that this hosting format presents!
• Advice for choosing a destination + specific property for your destination wedding,
• Tips for your overall planning timeline, finding vendors, and making your guest list,
• Top wedding destinations for 2023 & beyond,
• Seasonal travel volume & weather alerts to be aware of,
• Biggest mistakes couples make when planning a destination wedding,
• And so much more!

Susan has personally helped me plan TWO unforgettable vacations, and I can guarantee there will be many more!  Her genunine love of travel and new experiences - and wanting to SHARE that with her clients - is evident in every single step of working with her & her team. 

For a FREE viritual consultation with Susan, visit her calendar linked here.

And don't forget to mention the Wedding Planning Podcast during your initial consultation for $200 off your final destination wedding booking!  

Cheers to you & the trip of a lifetime!

A note from Susan:

I am so excited to work with you and talk about a Destination Wedding! With over 27 years in the business and over 200 destination weddings, I have lots of insight and experience. It's a huge love for me!

Some things to know before we meet:

• Where are you thinking on getting married?

• When are you thinking on getting married?

• Will there be kids at your wedding (under 18)?

• What do you think your wedding budget is?

We will talk all about this, but just to get things started!

Thank you again!

Susan

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we're exploring some basic modifications to "traditional" wedding hosting formats that will result in MAJOR DOLLARS SAVED!

Tune in for easy ways to MAXIMIZE your wedding budget - aka get MORE of the things you want - simply by making a small adjustment here & there to your hosting format, timing, and/or season.

ALL NEW!  BOOK A 1-ON-1 WEDDING STRATEGY CALL

www.wedpodcast.com

If you have the beginnings of a really creative wedding vision that you’d like to talk through to discuss overall feasibility, options, or pricing comparison - I have 1-on-1 wedding strategy calls available.

Here are some sample topics from couples I spoke with this past week:

>>> "Our budget has ballooned since booking a venue, photographer, and planner - what are some ways we can get things back under control moving forward?"

>>> "We want to rent an Airbnb and host our wedding at a national park - is that even possible?"

>>> "I got quotes from 3 planners and 4 photographers, and I'm feeling overwhelmed with all the information and not sure how to make our final decision."  

>>> "We have a unique wedding set up, and wondering what's better - a day-of, month-of, or full service wedding planner?"

>>> "I want to do our own flowers & bouquets, can you give me a simple roadmap for what to do and when?"

Visit wedpodcast.com today to book a single call / series of calls.  Earliest available call dates start March 20th.  Book now, they will fill up fast! 

Today we’re going to discuss what the post-covid economy means for YOUR WEDDING plans over the rest of 2023, and into 2024.

Even more importantly, we're going to review some simple ways that you can MAXIMIZE YOUR SPENDING POWER to get everything you want most out of your wedding celebration. 

Disclaimer - I am not an economist.  I have literally never had any formal education in economics beyond knowing that inflation affects me when the carwash is $1 more expensive today than it was last week, and instead of being able to buy 2 gallons of milk and 18 eggs at Costco for $8, now I have to choose one or the other. 

In just one day, I had 3 calls with couples from very different parts of the US, but the theme was the same - holy sh*!, are these quotes and prices we're getting back from vendors actually normal?!

And I know that if 100% of the conversations I have in one single day are related to the economy and how damn expensive everything is right now, then this is something that’s on all of our minds in one way or another.

I’m not here to claim that I understand the issue at the deepest, most granular level, or that I have all the answers - I simply thought it would be helpful to describe the problem and some reasons why it’s happening, and more importantly to offer some actionable ways that we as wedding industry consumers can increase our spending power.  

In my 1-on-1 calls Wedding Strategy Calls with members of my digital planning package, the majority of our conversations so far this year are centering around how to modify a professional product or service so that it’s more compatible with our overall budget and their priorities. 

In other words, what are some easy ways that we can MAXIMIZE our budget so that we can have more of the things we want?

If you’re someone who’s looking for a professional, unbiased eye to evaluate some high-level cost-savings opportunities OR suggestions on how to really maximize your spending power, I DO still have 1-on-1 calls available for new members!

This rare bonus packs some seriously HUGE VALUE, and I will continue offering monthly 1-on-1 to new members for as long as possible ...

HOWEVER, spots are filling quickly, and I literally only have so many hours in the day, so you'll want to head to wedpodcast.com for complete details and book your first 1-on-1 wedding strategy call today.

Talk soon!

Cheers,
Kara

THANK YOU to this week's supporting 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!

In this brand new episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast, I’m sharing AN ULTIMATE ENGAGEMENT CHECKLIST, including 10 key "to-do's" to launch your wedding planning journey into action.

CONGRATULATIONS!  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!

THANK YOU to this week's show sponsors:

Welcome to The VAULT, a unique subscription-based planning tool for couples who are dreaming of an UNFORGETTABLE WEDDING CELEBRATION ... minus the crushing stress, expense, and overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples. 

* * * NEW MEMBER BONUS * * * Get 1-ON-1 CALLS included for the lifetime of your membership!  CLICK HERE for details.

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.

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!