Wedding Planning Podcast

Welcome to the very first Wedding Q&A of a brand new year!  Today's show is  jam-packed with your wonderful questions on:

• Invitation & Save the Date etiquette,
• Late-night music cutoff time,
• Asking vendors & guests for proof of COVID vaccination
• Upscale invitation ideas 
• Jack & Jill party timeline,
• DIY catering,
• And whoa, so much more!

To participate in future Wedding Q&A's, simply follow @weddingplanningpodcast on Instagram.

To join my premium digital wedding planning package AND enjoy a FREE 3-day trial:

www.wedpocast.com/vault

A special thank you to today's show sponsors:

Bespoke wedding day details as unique as YOU!  Shop small on Etsy.com for everything from handmade invitations, to favors, dresses, accessories & more.  {calligraphy referral here}

Take the guesswork & stress out of choosing the music for your special day!  Visit MyWeddingSongs.com today to prepare your wedding music for FREE and enjoy over 600 custom wedding playlists.

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

Is your happiness suffering in these insanely stressful times?  Connect with your Better Help professional counselor today and save 10% off your first month.

Getting engaged is a HUGE deal ... I mean, I literally can't think of a better reason to THROW A PARTY! 

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we're exploring some memorable & fun ways to celebrate your engagement party.

In this brand new episode, we review the "who, what, when & where" of hosting your engagement party.  (The WHY is pretty obvious!)

I have loads of creative venue & theme ideas to share, irresistible party games and activities, and we'll round out the episode with your engagement party etiquette questions.

>>> Find ALL the details in this blog post <<<

www.wedpodcast.com/engagement-party

Typically we would talk about engagement parties in the context of the beginning of your engagement.  If you "google it" you’ll see guidelines of hosting this traditional party within a few weeks to three months of announcing your engagement. 

Well, that’s in normal times, which we don’t live in anymore!

In creating this episode, it occurred to me that many of you who got engaged essentially any time within the past calendar year may not have been able to host a traditional engagement party due to COVID restrictions. 

Virtual celebrations have been really popular, and maybe you gathered your closest loved ones on a big zoom call to celebrate safely and remotely.  

In essence?  Whether you’ve been engaged for a year, or for a week, today’s show all about planning a unique and memorable engagement party is perfect for you - especially if this is a milestone that got missed in the past months.. 

I hope you’ll love today’s show - please forward it + share with anyone who’s helping you put together your dream wedding celebration!

Cheers,

xo Kara

{affiliate} LINKS + RESOURCES MENTIONED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

• A tub of 40 Ring Pops
• Wedding & Engagement-themed pinatas
• Ready to ditch the crushing wedding overwhelm & expense felt by so many engaged couples?  Click here to sign up for a FREE 3-day trial of my revolutionary digital wedding planning package The VAULT.  There’s no promo code required, and I can’t wait to see you there! 

A special thank you to today's show sponsors:

Check these guys out at Generation Tux and use promo code in audio episode for 10% off the entire groom’s party AND a free groom's suit or tux w/ 5 paid party members.

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!

Take the guesswork & stress out of choosing the music for your special day!  Visit MyWeddingSongs.com today to prepare your wedding music for FREE and enjoy over 600 custom wedding playlists.

Today we’re going to review the Ultimate Engagement Checklist, packed with 12 super fun “must do’s” to launch into your wedding planning journey!

I mention lots of links to more info and past show titles / dates in today’s convo, and I put together a complete wrap up of everything in this jam-packed post on our website.

Want to automatically receive these recaps via email each week so you have everything on-demand, at your fingertips?  Simply enter your name & email address in the box at the top of today’s post:  www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/engaged

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.

In this brand new episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast, you'll learn 12 key "to-do's" to launch your wedding planning journey into action.  Tune in for a detailed ENGAGEMENT CHECKLIST to guide you along the way!

FREE Engagement Starter Kit!

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 to today's show sponsors:

Take the guesswork & stress out of choosing the music for your special day!  Visit MyWeddingSongs.com today to prepare your wedding music for FREE and enjoy over 600 custom wedding playlists.

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!

Is your happiness suffering in these insanely stressful times?  Connect with your Better Help professional counselor today and save 10% off your first month.

Are you ready to ditch the crushing wedding overwhelm & expense felt by so many engaged couples?  Click here to sign up for a FREE 3-day trial of my revolutionary digital wedding planning package.  There’s no promo code required, and I can’t wait to see you there! 

You want to host THE MOST meaningful, fun, unforgettable wedding that any of your friends & family have ever been to.  Simple enough, right?

Riiiiight.  The trouble is, sometimes our "champagne dreams" really clash with our beer budget.  Most couples don’t have a 6-figure wedding budget, can’t afford to hand over a blank checkbook to a full service event planner, and are faced to make really difficult sacrifices and swaps throughout their engagement.

Today we’re going to walk through a detailed conversation that will show you exactly how to get everything you want most our of your wedding celebration - no matter what your budget is. 

I’m going to give you a foolproof formula for identifying your top priorities and giving yourselves permission to allocate most of your wedding budget to those key wedding elements.

I’m also going to give you FULL permission to KEEP IT SIMPLE. 

And finally, we’re going to talk about the importance of keeping things in perspective.  Knowing when to flex your money-saving muscles, and when it might be better to trade your time for dollars and pay a professional rather than trying to “do it yourself”. 

In essence?  Weddings cost money - A LOT of money - and for most of us, that can quickly become a topic of stress & frustration. 

No one wants to be constantly bombarded by sticker shock over how much wedding vendors & services cost.  Not to mention the disagreements with family (and maybe even your partner) over:

• How to spend the money,
• Feeling guilty that you need to value the opinions of those who contribute over those who don’t,
• Wondering if it’s worth it to save a few hundred dollars but spend hours trying to figure something out on your own …

Tune in for so much more, including your top 5 "sticker shockers" from Instagram over the past week!

An extra special thank you to today's show sponsors:

Are you ready to ditch the crushing wedding overwhelm & expense felt by so many engaged couples?  Then it's time to sign up for a FREE 3-day trial of my revolutionary digital wedding planning package, The VAULT. There’s no promo code required, and I can’t wait to see you there! 

Take the guesswork & stress out of choosing the music for your special day!  Visit MyWeddingSongs.com today to prepare your wedding music for FREE and enjoy over 600 custom wedding playlists.

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!

Train your loved one to deliver your ceremony like a pro with the Unboring Officiant training package!  Listeners enjoy 50% off when you visit www.unboringofficiant.com/weddingplanningpodcast

This week on the Wedding Planning Podcast, I’m sweeping the inbox clean for one final Wedding Q&A of 2020!

Tune in to this brand new episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast for answers to your top questions submitted via email & Instagram.  We’ll be covering:

• How far is too far to travel between ceremony & reception?
• DIY charcuterie tips for cocktail hour spread
• Tips for planning our wedding in just 4 months?
• Should we do a first look?
• And so much more!

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!  Simply click here to claim your FREE Engagement Starter Kit >>> my gift to you ;)

Happy New Year from my heart to yours … I’m really looking forward to sharing a brand new year with you!

Cheers,
Kara

A special thank you to today’s show sponsors:

• 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!
• Train your loved one to deliver your ceremony like a pro with the Unboring Officiant training package!  Listeners enjoy 50% off when you visit www.unboringofficiant.com/weddingplanningpodcast
• Is your happiness suffering in these insanely stressful times?  Connect with your Better Help professional counselor today and save 10% off your first month.

This week's show is full of NINE of your wonderful wedding planning questions! 

We're going to cover:

• Plus-size dress shopping tips,
• Alcohol service rules at your venue,
• Financial stress between your families,
• Wedding timelines,
• Wedding band shopping tips,
• DIY project advice & transportation,
• Creative ways to include Mom in the ceremony,
• Why I would highly recommend renting a vacation property for pre-wedding prep & festivites!

Ever feel like talking about money and the wedding with your families makes you wanna find a cave and hide?  You're not alone!  Tune in for some easy ways to gracefully change the subject ;)

To participate in future Q&A's, follow @weddingplanningpodcast on Instagram - I can't wait to hear from you!

xo, Kara

A special thank you to today's show sponsors:

• 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!

• Check these guys out at Generation Tux and use promo code "WEDPOD" for 10% off the entire groom’s party AND a free groom's tux w/ 5 paid party members.

• Have you heard of Calm, the app designed to help you ease stress and get the best sleep of your life?  Listeners enjoy 40% off a Calm premium subscription when you visit www.calm.com/wedding

Finally, some silver linings in the wedding world!  Today we’re going to reflect on 2020, but more importantly, let’s talk about where we’re headed in 2021 - and my friend, trust me when I say that there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel.

It’s easy to look at 2020 and laser focus on all the disappointments, the frustration, and the stress that has surrounded a global pandemic of epic proportions.  While it’s totally normal to face these letdowns and CRY, it’s equally important that we start to look ahead into a new year, and how we can open a new chapter of hope for better days to come.

I don’t need to tell you that the wedding world was completely devastated by COVID, nationwide shut downs, and panic from couples who were forced to resort to wedding plan B, then C, then D, and on and on.  Maybe YOU are one of those couples, and you’re taking planning day by day, still wondering if your spring 2021 wedding - that you rescheduled LAST spring - can even take place. 

We find ourselves in a unique situation with millions of engaged couples from 2019 and 2020, all clamoring for 2021 dates, and as you can imagine, and maybe even are experiencing firsthand, that creates a log jam of venue and vendor availability over the coming year and beyond. 

Not to mention that many of you who initially rescheduled your 2020 wedding for 2021 - are now facing renewed concern and stress over whether or not your 2021 wedding in March, April, May or beyond will actually be able to happen. 

But all of this aside, there are SILVER LININGS that lie ahead, and that’s truly what I want to focus on today! 

The timing for this show couldn’t be more perfect - the COVID vaccine got the final green light just days ago, which comes as such amazing news, especially during the holiday season of hope and promise of a new year. 

There IS light at the end of the tunnel, and while the vaccine isn’t a switch that’s going to immediately turn on and get us back to “normal”, it is extremely promising news as move forward. 

And this is the perfect time to say THANK YOU to all of our essential workers who have dedicated yourselves to your trade this past year - our teachers, medical professionals, lab technicians, and everyone who got up each day and went out into that scary world to keep things afloat for the rest of us - I am grateful for you, and I know everyone listening is grateful for you as well!

Throughout today’s show, I’ll be sharing bits of a conversation I had with Katherine Frost, founder of ORO Planner  which is an all-in-one software platform for event planning professionals.  As someone with a birds-eye view of the wedding industry nationwide, she brings a unique perspective to the show, and she has some promising insights and planning tips to share with you. 

Thank you to this week's show sponsors!

• Do you ever feel like your happiness suffering in these insanely stressful times?  Connect with your Better Help professional counselor today and save 10% off your first month.
• Check these guys out at Generation Tux and use promo code "WEDPOD" for 10% off the entire groom’s party AND a free groom's tux w/ 5 paid party members.
• 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!

“I’m struggling with imaging how all of my wedding reception decorations will look together - flowers, signs, decorations, tables, etc.  Any tips for making sure all my little decisions fit together in the end?”

If you’re like most of us, you're not a full service wedding or event designer (and hiring one isn't in the budget!). So how can we trust that the dozens of small wedding decor decisions we make along the way will ultimately work together as a whole?  

Today we’re going to explore 4 ways that you can use professional design skills to create the cohesive, show-stopper look that you’re going for on your wedding day. 

These design tips are suitable for all budgets, and no, you don’t need an advanced art or design degree to pull them off!  Tune in for easy tips on choosing your table linens, centerpiece flowers, favors, cocktail napkins, confetti, wedding party outfits, table settings, and more!

Links mentioned in today's show:

• We're also going to review 3 affordable reception decor ideas pulled straight from Pinterest to get your inspiration flowing.
• Beautiful bolts of tulle
• Fun paper lanterns in various sizes & colors
• Claim your FREE Engagement Starter Kit here!

A special thank you to today's show sponsors!

Ready to ditch the crushing wedding overwhelm & expense felt by so many engaged couples?  Sign up for a FREE 3-day trial of my revolutionary digital wedding planning package!

Do you ever feel like your happiness suffering in these insanely stressful times?  Connect with your Better Help professional counselor today and save 10% off your first month.

Check these guys out at Generation Tux and use promo code "WEDPOD" for 10% off the entire groom’s party AND a free groom's tux w/ 5 paid party members.

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

You're newly engaged and BURSTING WITH EXCITEMENT about marrying the love of your life!  You've got colors and themes to plan, venues to tour, cakes to taste, suits to choose, flowers to design ... all leading to the most unforgettable, unique, amazing wedding day celebration that your loved ones will talk about for years.  

Unfortunately, most couples dive right in to making BIG AND SMALL wedding decisions waaaayyy too soon ... with friends, family, and the good old internet all clamoring to guide their next steps.

But without a STRATEGIC master plan & REALISTIC wedding vision, it's easy to get lost in crushing overwhelm and loads of unforeseen expenses throughout the course of your engagement. 

That’s why I created the totally free WPP Engagement Starter Kit, where together we can walk through the first 3 steps to SIMPLIFYING your wedding plans and getting you set up for a STRESS-FREE engagement. 

Sign up for your FREE Engagement Starter Kit by visiting www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/learnmore

In today's show, we’re going to explore one of the most important aspects of getting started with your wedding plans - working with your fiance to set an overall wedding vision & shared set of expectations. 

It’s easy to get caught up in a million overwhelming things from day one - and MOST couples zoom right past the most basic, fundamental conversation that should be had before any cakes are tasted or venues are toured. 

Tune in for so much more, including a sneak peek of all new shows to come in the weeks ahead!

To participate in weekly Q&A's & submit future show topic requests, follow along on Instagram @weddingplanningpodcast

A special thank you to today's show sponsors:

• 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!
• Check these guys out at Generation Tux and use promo code "WEDPOD" for 10% off the entire groom’s party AND a free groom's tux w/ 5 paid party members.
• Train your loved one to deliver your ceremony like a pro with the Unboring Officiant training package!  Listeners enjoy 50% off when you visit www.unboringofficiant.com/weddingplanningpodcast

I have TEN easy wedding favor ideas to share with you today, and there's a little something for everyone!  Whether you've got your glue gun blazing and ready for some DIY-action, or you're looking to purchase pre-made favors for your big day, we're going to walk through some really creative & unique options for favor gifts to share with your wedding guests. 

Stay tuned for a segment of the show highlighting favor ideas sent in by YOU, the Wedding Planning Podcast listeners in the past week!

While wedding favors are totally optional, there are INFINITE ways to make them meaningful & fun - without spending a ton of money.   

If wedding favors are something you’ve considered writing off as a SAVE item - in other words, you’re gonna save the time & money and skip it altogether - I would encourage you to have a listen to these ideas, some of which can be done for $1 or less per guest.

I’m hard at work putting together all new shows for 2021, and I would love to learn a bit more about YOU! 

​To complete the 2020 WPP listener survey, simply click here or visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/survey

More notes from today's show -

• We mention Etsy.com a few times in today's show, and holiday season is the perfect time for GREAT DEALS from sellers from around the world!  Try a search for "custom wedding favor tags", "seeded paper", "mini succulents", or any other wedding favor + DIY supply you can imagine!
• For FREE custom labels & tags, try a google search for "free wedding favor tag template" 

As promised, a link to the article I highlighted 3 fun wedding favor ideas from ... and yes, there are 37 more! >>>  "40 Easy DIY Wedding Favor Project Ideas"

• I would LOVE to see & share your favor projects that you’re working on for your wedding - tag me or send a DM on Instagram @weddingplanningpodcast!

Past episodes I think you'll love:

• "DIY Hand Dipped Pretzels" dated 6/19/19
• "Wedding Side Hustles" dated 2/26/2020
• "Tips for Hosting a Backyard Wedding" dated 7/22/2020
• "Creative Wedding Money Savers Part I & II" dated 7/3/2020 + 7/10/2020

And of course, an extra special thank you to today's show sponsors!

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!

Check these guys out at Generation Tux and use promo code "WEDPOD" for 10% off the entire groom’s party AND a free groom's tux w/ 5 paid party members.

Do you feel like your happiness suffering in these insanely stressful times?  Connect with your Better Help professional counselor today and save 10% off your first month.