Wedding Planning Podcast

How are you supposed to manage all the stress of daily life ON TOP OF trying to plan a wedding on our own, with a million different opinions, options, and outside factors pulling me in a million different directions?

While I cannot send your future mother in law to therapy, or predict the future of an ever-evolving pandemic virus that has put life into a tailspin for coming up on two years now, or convince your boss to let you have a week off to plan your wedding uninterrupted, I DO have a great solution for you if you’re feeling like wedding stuff is about to be the straw that broke your back, on top of all the other challenges life is serving up.

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we're going to walk through planning your very own WEEKEND WEDDING PLANNING RETREAT.  Whether you chose to staycation at a cheap hotel, hop in the car or board a plane, there is so much value in shaking things up a bit, getting away from home, and giving yourself the gift of TIME + FOCUS on wedding stuff, uninterrupted, for 48 hours.

• I know we’re all full of subscriptions to Netflix, Spotify, wine clubs, beauty boxes, meal kits, but I truly believe this is the BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK out there in terms of personalized wedding planning support.  Membership is incredibly affordable (I wouldn’t have it any other way!), there’s a free 3-day trial, and you’re free to cancel your membership any time, zero questions asked.  Details at www.wedpodcast.com
• Newly engaged & wondering where to begin with your wedding plans?  Reveal the first THREE STEPS to simplifying the planning process, and ditch the paralyzing overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples!  Visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/learnmore to claim your FREE Engagement Starter Kit  >>> my gift to you ;)

THANK YOU for supporting our show partners who make these free weekly episodes come to life!

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!

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.

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

Please, save yourself the stress & avoid these TEN wedding planning "blind spots" at all costs!

FULL BLOG POST & links from today's episode available here:

www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/blindspot

Over the past 4 years of producing the Wedding Planning Podcast, one of my favorite pieces of feedback from you is some variation of, “WOW, we never would have even thought of that!”

I love sharing wedding planning ideas and strategies that go beyond what you might find if you simply google something, or browse through a quick article on a wedding website. 

Don’t get me wrong, we cover the basics here too - but I LOVE digging down deeper to find the solutions and options that aren’t quite so obvious, and that might offer a really creative way to put a unique spin on your day, make your guests’ experience that much more incredible, or save you a ton of money by simply making a little adjustment or swap.

Today we’re going to cover TEN wedding planning “blind spots” - areas that past couples and listeners of the podcast have pointed out as things they wouldn’t necessarily have thought about during their planning, but that became clear after listening to an episode, or in some cases, after their actual wedding was over and done with (and it was too late …)

If you’re in the early stages of planning, hopefully we can catch a few things now, so that you don’t find yourself a year or two from now saying, if only we knew then what we know now …

Some of the tips from today’s show are very minor, simple pieces of advice while others are a pretty big deal - I’m going to point to a lot of full length episodes that are available to you to download for much more information - I made a blog post with all the show notes so you don’t miss a thing, and you don’t have to be frantically writing down notes while you listen.  You can visit that post at www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/blindspot

You have literally millions of options in terms of wedding websites, blogs, magazines, and other podcasts, and I thank you from my whole heart for spending this time with me, and for including me in your wedding planning journey.  It’s a huge honor, and a huge responsibility that I hold with endless respect and gratitude, thank you. 

I’ll meet you here again next week, same time, same place! 

Cheers,

xo Kara

 

Newly engaged & wondering where to begin with your wedding plans? 

>>> Reveal the first THREE STEPS to simplifying the planning process, and ditch the paralyzing overwhelm felt by so many engaged couples.  Visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/learnmore to claim your FREE Engagement Starter Kit  >>> my gift to you ;)

A special THANK YOU for supporting today'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 booking!

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

Today’s convo is a wedding planning strategy GEM!  We’re going to cover every single last little thing that should be included within your wedding venue contract. 

If you’ve already booked a venue and signed a contract, I’d suggest pulling out your actual document & sticking around for today's convo to be sure that all the key items are addressed.

Your wedding venue is literally the centerpiece of your dream wedding celebration.  It’s also likely the most expensive decision you’ll make throughout the course of your engagement, so we need to be extra cautious in getting the details cemented just right.  

A special THANK YOU for supporting today's show sponsors:

Thousands of couples have planned simple, meaningful & affordable multi-event wedding celebrations, and you can do it too with LONG WEDDING WEEKEND BY DESIGN.

Long Wedding Weekend by Design is my all new digital wedding planning package specifically for couples who want to MAXIMIZE their wedding celebration across MULTIPLE DAYS + MULTIPLE EVENTS.

Whether you're stuck in the initial "I don't think we can pull that off with our time & budget" phase, OR you've already committed but find yourself in a tangled mess of half-made plans - finally, an incredibly straightforward, 16-STEP GUIDE to planning your multi-day wedding celebration from start to finish ... WITH ABSOLUTELY ZERO GUESSWORK AND WITH ANY BUDGET!

Visit www.longweddingweekend.com

to learn more, and get started planning your dream LONG WEDDING WEEKEND today.

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.

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

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!

Most engaged couples fail to plan for the sneaky little expenses that start to appear in the final months before the wedding.

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

A special THANK YOU for supporting today's show sponsors:

Thousands of couples have planned simple, meaningful & affordable multi-event wedding celebrations, and you can do it too with LONG WEDDING WEEKEND BY DESIGN.

Long Wedding Weekend by Design is my all new digital wedding planning package specifically for couples who want to MAXIMIZE their wedding celebration across MULTIPLE DAYS + MULTIPLE EVENTS.

Whether you're stuck in the initial "I don't think we can pull that off with our time & budget" phase, OR you've already committed but find yourself in a tangled mess of half-made plans - finally, an incredibly straightforward, 16-STEP GUIDE to planning your multi-day wedding celebration from start to finish ... WITH ABSOLUTELY ZERO GUESSWORK AND WITH ANY BUDGET!

Visit www.longweddingweekend.com

to learn more, and get started planning your dream LONG WEDDING WEEKEND today.

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 booking!

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.  

Tune in for my detailed roadmap to 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.

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. 

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!

Thousands of couples have planned simple, meaningful & affordable multi-event wedding celebrations, and you can do it too with LONG WEDDING WEEKEND BY DESIGN, my all new digital wedding planning package specifically for couples who want an incredibly straightforward, complete guide to planning your multi-day wedding from start to finish … with absolutely zero guesswork!

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

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

A very special thank you to today's show sponsors:

Enjoy a FREE SUIT OR TUXEDO RENTAL for the wedding couple with 5 paid wedding party members at www.generationtux.com

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 booking!

Today's show is THE ultimate guide to wedding reception speeches!  Together we'll review:

• Who gives a speech / toast at the reception?
• Should we give direction about topic, tone, & length?
• When should the speeches take place? 
• In what order?
• I’m worried about inappropriate content - what should we do?
• How many speeches is too many?
• What if someone has paralyzing stage fright & is terrified to speak?

ALL NEW! >>> 

Thousands of couples have planned simple, meaningful & affordable multi-event wedding celebrations, and you can do it too with LONG WEDDING WEEKEND BY DESIGN, my all new digital wedding planning package specifically for couples who want an incredibly straightforward, complete guide to planning your multi-day wedding from start to finish … with absolutely zero guesswork!

 A special thank you to today's show sponsors:

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

Today we're reviewing SIX important guidelines for working with your friends and/or family members who are offering their skills & talents for your wedding.

Your cousin bakes cakes.  Your neighbor is a photographer.  Your co-worker plans weddings "on the side".  Your roommate from college is a DJ. 

So, should you rely on their services for your wedding?

Maybe.  There are some key questions to consider before committing to working with friends so that you’re not caught in an awkward, uncomfortable, or worse - friendship-ending situation - in the months down the road.

ALL NEW! >>> Long Wedding Weekend by Design

If you’re someone who values quality time spent with the people you love, then you know that a multi-event wedding weekend is the best way to maximize your overall wedding experience and opportunity to truly connect with your guests.  

Don’t be that couple who stresses out for the entire reception, trying to say a 5 second hello to 200 wedding guests … only to feel disappointed and guilty at the end that there wasn’t time to even have one meaningful conversation.

Take your wedding celebration to the next level with LONG WEDDING WEEKEND BY DESIGN, my all new digital planning package that gives you access to an incredibly straightforward, complete guide to planning your multi-day wedding celebration from start to finish - WITH ABSOLUTELY ZERO GUESSWORK. 

Relax knowing that you’ll create hours of quality time and a lifetime of memories with all the people you love most over the course of your long wedding weekend.  Join us today when you visit www.longweddingweekend.com. 

Thank you to our valued partners who made today's show possible!

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.  

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!

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

Hosting a multi-day, multi-event WEDDING WEEKEND is hands down the best way to host a UNIQUE and MEANINGFUL wedding celebration that’s full of opportunities to connect and spent QT with your closest loved ones.

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we’re going to highlight 3 major mistakes that couples make when planning a long wedding weekend celebration, so that you can stay focused on what matters most - maximizing every single minute of face time with your loved ones, and creating unforgettable memories over the course of your wedding celebration.

Thousands of couples have planned simple, meaningful & affordable multi-event wedding celebrations, and you can do it too with LONG WEDDING WEEKEND BY DESIGN, my all new digital wedding planning package specifically for couples who want to MAXIMIZE the impact of their wedding celebration on the lives and relationships of their closest family & friends.

​LONG WEDDING WEEKEND BY DESIGN is an incredibly straightforward, complete guide to planning your multi-day wedding from start to finish, with absolutely zero guesswork.

The first couples to register for this exciting new planning package will also enjoy some really exciting bonuses, including:

• Access to private, small group calls
• Long Wedding Weekend Q&A sessions
• Live feedback + strategy meetings with me - because I want your input on exactly how to make this the perfect planning tool for YOU.

If you’re someone who values meaningful opportunities to spend time hanging out with your loved ones, then you know that in most cases, a traditional 4-6 hour wedding ceremony & reception format with 100 or more guests is simply not going to deliver on that.

One of the most common things you’ll hear newlywed couples say is how fast everything went by, how quickly the wedding day came & went, "it was like we blinked and everything was over."

Lots of very intentional couples like you have realized this. They're shifting their wedding planning focus away from just one wedding day, to increasing the opportunities for meaningful time spent together by planning a wedding celebration that allows for 2, 3, 4 or more days spent hanging out with friends & family.

I’ve seen over & over again how incredibly special extended wedding celebrations are, and the lasting impact that it makes on a group of family & friends.

Especially in today’s world, where many of us have been kept apart from the ones we love - why not make your wedding a magical reason for everyone to gather, reconnect, and relax together?

And not just for one short happy hour, or one sit down dinner, but for multiple coffee meetup’s, casual breakfasts, a welcome party, a day at the lake, happy hours, lunch dates. None of these things are fancy, or expensive, or difficult to plan - and they allow you & your guests to make the ultimate investment in one another - your undivided TIME.

I know the logistics can feel impossible to navigate, especially when you’re working a job, finishing school, finding time for your family, your friendships, and of course, your relationship. It’s a lot, and it can all feel totally overwhelming ... but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Thousands of couples have planned simple, meaningful & affordable multi-event wedding celebrations, and you can do it too with LONG WEDDING WEEKEND BY DESIGN, my all new digital wedding planning package specifically for couples who want to MAXIMIZE the impact of their wedding celebration on the lives and relationships of their closest family & friends.

​LONG WEDDING WEEKEND BY DESIGN is an incredibly straightforward, complete guide to planning your multi-day wedding from start to finish, with absolutely zero guesswork.

I have detailed schedules, timelines, outlines, recommended tools and resources, rock solid budgeting advice, and creative + unique recommendations and workarounds to the most common challenges I’ve seen couples face time & time again.

The complete LONG WEDDING WEEKEND BY DESIGN planning package will be available on June 1st, in just a few short weeks.

In the meantime, you’re invited to take advantage of pre-sale pricing - aka HUGE SAVINGS - while I put the finishing touches on everything.

The first couples to register for this exciting new planning package will also enjoy some really exciting bonuses, including:

• Access to private, small group calls
• Long Wedding Weekend Q&A sessions
• Live feedback + strategy meetings with me - because I want your input on exactly how to make this the perfect planning tool for YOU.

If you’re even considering extending your wedding celebration out over multiple days, please don’t get caught up thinking that multiple events means quadruple the stress, triple the time, or an impossibly huge budget.

Hosting a long wedding weekend doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. LONG WEDDING WEEKEND BY DESIGN is an incredibly easy to follow formula that I’ve broken down into a 90 minute, step-by-step action plan, so that we can take your multi-event wedding celebration from idea to reality.

Hurry hurry, because presale pricing and those incredible bonuses expire May 18, in just a few short days!

I can’t wait to see you there ❤️

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we’re doing an overview of universal questions and research tips that are designed to help you hire your dream team of WEDDING VENDORS. 

You’ll come away from today’s show ready to find the best product, at the best price, and from the vendor who you most naturally CLICK with.  

Whether it’s an officiant, a wedding planner, or a photographer, I created these checkpoints to save you precious time & energy, and to empower you to uncover the BEST DEALS. 

I’m going to share priceless wedding industry insights, so that you have a deep understanding of the wedding vendor landscape and the things that go into package pricing, seasonal discounts, advertising expenses, and so much more.

A WRITTEN RECAP of today's show is available to members of my digital wedding planning package, The VAULT.  Sign up for a totally free 3-day trial when you visit www.wedpodcast.com

A special THANK YOU to today's show sponsors for making this wedding planning strategy meeting possible!

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

Enjoy a FREE SUIT OR TUXEDO RENTAL for the wedding couple with 5 paid wedding party members at www.generationtux.com

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!

Today's show is just the beginning of dozens of strategic recorded meetings that walk you through the ALL NEW WAY to plan your dream wedding.  Sign up for a totally free 3-day trial of my revolutionary digital wedding planning package by visiting www.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.

Today's show is just the beginning of dozens of strategic recorded meetings that walk you through specific wedding planning milestones and show you exactly how to plan your dream wedding! Learn more and sign up for a totally free zero obligation 3-day trial by visiting www.wedpodcast.com

So, what's on YOUR personalized wedding planning checklist, and what "traditional" wedding stuff did NOT make the cut?  Tag me on Instagram @weddingplanningpodcast & tell me all about it!

PS - A special thank you to today's show sponsors for making this episode possible:

SUSAN'S TRAVEL SERVICES | Would you LOVE to take advantage of FREE 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!

THE WEDDING PLANNING PODCAST VAULT | Thousands of engaged couples have discovered the unseen elements to a joyful, confident, and intentional engagement season, and you can do it too with my digital wedding planning package, The VAULT. Learn more & sign up for a totally free zero obligation 3-day trial when you visit www.wedpodcast.com

ETSY | There’s no place quite like Etsy for personalized wedding gifts & decor. Make your wedding celebration as unique as you with custom signs, invitations, favors & more. Filter endless beautiful options by price point, color, free shipping, delivery date, style & more when you visit weddingplanningpodcast.co/etsy