Wedding Planning Podcast

Wedding day fashion for the groom & groomsmen goes way beyond the traditional tuxedo.  Today we're going to explore some of the more casual and creative attire options for anyone who does NOT plan on wearing a flowing white dress to the wedding!

When I got married back in 2010, my recollection is that tuxedos were the standard fare.  It feels like men's wedding day fashion has gotten much more relaxed & casual - in a GOOD WAY - over the past few years.

Let’s take this opportunity to review some options, pricing & tips to save yourselves time, money and stress in the process of figuring out what the guys should wear on the wedding day.

Of course there are a zillion variations and creative spins to what we're discussing, so please feel free to use your imagination to suit (pardon the pun, see what I did there?) your unique situation, personalities & tastes.

Today we’re exploring:

• Traditional tuxedo rental tips,
• Some pleasantly surprising information on custom suits,
• And casual, playful menswear alternatives.

WOMEN'S SUITS:

Talk about a multimillion dollar GAP in the industry - unfortunately, finding women's suit rentals is very difficult.  Some research yielded a few legit options:

• Women's suits on Etsy
• https://stitchandtie.com/womens-black-shawl-lapel-tuxedo
• https://www.hertuxedo.com/
• https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/badgley_mischka/gold_sequin_pants

And last but certainly not least, a HUGE thank you to GENERATION TUX!  Check these guys out & use promo code "WEDPOD" for 10% off the entire groom’s party.

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!

This week is classic Wedding Q&A, where I'm answering FIVE of your wedding questions submitted via Instagram stories.

"What should we do about our wedding coming up in _____ with corona virus?"  >>> I've gathered all the essential info you need to make a solid, informed game plan going forward in the totally free WEDDING PLAN B workshop series.  Sign up at www.weddingplanb.com

You're newly engaged & bursting with excitement about marrying the love of your life!  Unfortunately, many couples start making big wedding decisions before having a solid budget, realistic wedding vision, and specific action plan laid out with their partner.  But without a plan and set priorities, you'll likely wind up with a blown budget, crushing overwhelm, and loads of frustration.  That's exactly why I created the Wedding Planning Podcast ENGAGEMENT STARTER KIT, to guide you through the first 3 steps to planning the wedding of your dreams.  To sign up {yes, it's totally free!} visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/learnmore

I absolutely love hearing from you - to get in on the action for future Wedding Planning Q&A shows, simply follow @weddingplanningpodcast on Instagram & check in regularly to submit your wedding questions. 

VAULT Members hold a *VIP* pass to Q&A's! >>> 10 more days to take advantage of "BOGO" membership pricing!  Your second month is on me when you visit >>> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/vault 

SUSAN'S TRAVEL SERVICES >>> $50.00 off your dream honeymoon, and FREE travel planning services???  Yes, please!  Email [email protected]

Save 50% on the UNBORING OFFICIANT training package when you visit www.unboringofficiant.com/weddingplanningpodcast 

Today I have some tips for crafting your WEDDING & PERSONAL LIFE TO-DO LIST to maximize your time spent at home in quarantine. Just think, when we come out of this, you'll be SIX steps ahead of the game ;)

Today’s episode of the Wedding Planning Podcast is perfect for you if you’re working or studying from home & suddenly finding yourself with LOTS of extra time on your hands.

Yes, we can drink wine with friends on Zoom & binge Netflix. But with bars, restaurants, theaters, parks, beaches, and, well, pretty much literally everything CLOSED, I’d be willing to bet that you’ve found yourself in the past few days looking around your house at some point & saying ... ummmmmm what the heck should I do now?

A huge THANK YOU to all of the first responders, medical professionals, front-liners keeping shelves stocked and packages moving & delivered - your hard work is very appreciated right now!

And thank you of course for letting me be a part of your wedding plans - it's a huge honor, and I'm thinking of you.

xo, Kara

PS - some additional links & resources mentioned in today's video:

• Live a happier life, TODAY.  Join over 800,000 people taking charge of their mental health by visiting www.betterhelp.com/wedding
• Now is the perfect time to spruce up your Pinterest boards!
• For links to pretty wedding DIY supplies starting at just $0.25 AND lots of fun project ideas, visit www.karasvineyardwedding.com
• To work with me virtually to plan the wedding of YOUR dreams, visit www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/vault {hurry in & your second month of membership is on me!}
• & lastly, now is the perfect time to support small businesses on Etsy who are open & ready to create beautiful one of a kind decor, gifts, accessories & more.

Your bridesmaids and groomsmen play a really special role in your wedding plans, and of course on the wedding day. 

Today, let’s review the process of who to choose to do the honors, who NOT to choose, what their roles will be, and ways to manage any conflicts that may arise.

In the second half of the show, I'll be sharing your wedding questions, answered!

Concerned about the corona virus / COVID-19 affecting your wedding plans?  Sign up for my totally free "Wedding Plan B" workshop and I'll send you my take, directly to your inbox.

For many of us, a full service wedding planner is simply not in the budget.  That’s why I created the Wedding Planning Podcast VAULT - a tight-knit membership community of engaged couples like you who want the expertise of working with a professional coordinator, minus the expensive price tag. 

Take advantage of "BOGO" pricing & get your 2nd month of membership FREE!  Learn more & sign up at www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/vault

• Show topic ideas?  Questions, feedback, requests?  Please be in touch!

www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/contact

• Click here for an episode of the Big WPP on Indian / Fusion weddings
• Behind-the-scenes fun ...
• Instagram @weddingplanningpodcast

A special thank you to our show sponsors:

Email Susan to get started planning your dream honeymoon - yes, her services & expertise are FREE!  [email protected]

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

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?

And, there's MORE - stay tuned until the end of the show for a quick discussion on first dances.

For 3 of my favorite off-beat first dance songs, follow along on Instagram @weddingplanningpodcast

Meet up on Instagram & you'll also enjoy behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at new shows, bonus episode content, recaps, special offers & more!  

"BOGO" SALE!  Wedding Planning Podcast VAULT

In these insanely stressful & uncertain times, I want to be as available as possible to help you sort out your wedding plans.  That's why I'm sharing "BOGO" membership pricing inside The VAULT - sign up today, and get your 2nd month of membership FREE!  

In a nutshell?  Binge listen now, enjoy unlimited access to a treasure chest of wedding planning wisdom, and feel free to cancel anytime.  More details here.

__________

Connect with your BetterHelp professional counselor and save 10% off your first month with discount code “WEDDING".

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 (no promo code required)

You’re engaged, you’re incredibly excited, and at some point it hits you - you’ve got an entire wedding to plan, have no clue where to begin, and are feeling completely & utterly overwhelmed!  

Today on the Wedding Planning Podcast, we’re walking through a Master Wedding Planning Timeline to keep you on-task from engagement, all the way to the wedding day. 

Together we're going to break down planning your wedding into bite-sized, manageable pieces, and give you a master timeline of exactly what should happen, and when.

You don't need me to tell you that there's A LOT to organize, prep and manage in the months leading up to your wedding.  Most of us listening won't be using a full service wedding planner who handles everything from booking your vendors, to design decisions, contract negotiation, and everything in between.

This means that YOU need to morph into a pseudo wedding planner - and that’s where wedding overwhelm typically starts to creep in.

The good news is ... that I’ve got your back!    The Wedding Planning Podcast is designed to guide you, step-by-step through your wedding plans.  I’m here to take the guesswork out of hard decisions, shed light on wedding industry secrets, explore time and money-saving alternatives to common solutions, and fill you in on wedding planning blind spots, or things you might never have even thought of until it’s too late. 

View PINTEREST SAMPLE TIMELINES here.

* * * This week's VAULT Member Bonus is a detailed worksheet for creating YOUR customized wedding planning timeline.  Don't miss out on another week - learn more & become a member today!  www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/vault

 

A special THANK YOU to today's show sponsors:

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

Making the switch to an aluminum-free deodorant does NOT mean you have to sacrifice on performance. For 20% off your first Native purchase, visit www.nativedeodorant.com and use promo code "WEDDING".

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!

Are you in complete FREAKOUT MODE over the corona virus & your upcoming wedding celebration?  Breathe deep, my friend - you're not alone, and you have my support, along with countless other wedding industry professionals.

Read the full article, "Planning Your Wedding During Corona Virus" that we discuss in this episode by clicking here.

The spread of the corona virus & worldwide measures to contain it has escalated so quickly in the past week that your head is probably spinning.  Between stockpiling groceries & supplies and making remote arrangements at work, engaged couples like you are also hit devastatingly hard with wedding day decisions to make about events scheduled in March, April, and likely into May.

You’re likely feeling confused, scared, and stressed out with what to do next, and that is completely normal.  

Today we’re joined by Meg Keene, editor of A Practical Wedding, which also happens to be the largest independently held wedding publication in the English language(!!!).  If you haven’t already, I would highly recommend putting A Practical Wedding on your short list of trusted wedding resources. 

I’m going to share our conversation from Tuesday, March 17th in just a moment, but want to add a few quick notes before we dive in:

First, this is a really frightening and uncertain time, and if you’re completely freaking out - please know that that’s totally normal, and you have my support in addition to the wonderful industry experts that I’ll be sharing with you in the coming weeks & months.  

Second, if your wedding is scheduled for March, April, or May, you will need to make some decisions about postponing or altering your celebration - please refer to the full article we discussed here to help you navigate through this difficult and stressful time.

Third, if your wedding is scheduled for later this summer or fall, please do not panic.  My personal recommendation is to sit tight until the end of March before making any big dramatic decisions about a wedding date in June or beyond.

And lastly, things are happening really quickly with respect to containment measures - please rely on trusted news sources for your information, including your state & municipal officials for details specific to your location. 

Learn more about Meg's newest project, Hotline Ring here.

Become a VAULT member today & enjoy on-demand access to ad-free episodes of the Wedding Planning Podcast, 12 unreleased BONUS episodes, a private community group, & so much more.

Thank you to today's show sponsors:

• Connect with your Better Help professional counselor and save 10% off your first month with discount code “WEDDING".
• Save 50% off your Save the Dates from Zola when you visit www.zola.com/wpp with promo code SAVE50.
• Who needs a vacation?  Take advantage of FREE honeymoon planning services for your all-inclusive, cruise, or exotic honeymoon AND get $50 off when you book when you email [email protected].

 

Freaking out about the corona virus & your wedding?  You’re not alone.  This is an extremely stressful time for engaged couples like you who have questions on cancelling or possibly rescheduling your wedding due to recent developments in the containment of COVID-19.

IF your wedding is scheduled for March or April, you’ve got some really overwhelming decisions to make. Please rely on the wonderful article from our friends at A Practical Wedding linked in this post:

www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/corona

Is your wedding in May 2020 or later?

I wish so very badly that I had a crystal ball and could guarantee that things will be back to normal, but alas, I don’t.  Developments with corona virus and the spread of COVID-19 are unfolding daily, even hourly right now.  There’s sadly no way to tell exactly what things will look like in 2, 3, 4 months from now.

I personally think we will have a much clearer picture about containment of the corona virus in the next 2 weeks, and IF YOUR WEDDING IS 2+ MONTHS AWAY, I would sit tight before making any huge, wedding-altering decisions until the end of March.

Last note - it’s really important to get your news from fact-based sites, and pay attention to news releases from your state and local officials. That sensational article you see on Facebook might be designed to spark fear and chaos, not necessarily inform you with the facts.  Some reputable news sites that I trust:

• cdc.gov
• cnn.com
• npr.org

Stay safe, stay healthy, and if you’re stuck inside with nowhere to go, then take this opportunity to listen to over 50+ free episodes of the Wedding Planning Podcast, available wherever you listen!

Talk soon,

xo, Kara

If you’re ready to kick wedding overwhelm to the curb, then today’s show is for you! 

I have a very special guest who happens to be a time management expert, and she's going to share her top 3 tips for engaged couples looking to keep their wedding plans organized, simple & stress-free.

I also have some of your voicemails to share, and of course, lots of intriguing wedding questions that need answers.  Tune in for so much more!

Links & resources mentioned in today's show:

Subscribe to Ditch Busy for FREE weekly time management tips from time management & systems expert, Kate Erickson!  Find Ditch Busy in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen.

I would LOVE to hear from you!  To leave a voice message with your wedding story to be featured on an upcoming show, visit: www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/your-story

Take advantage of 25 years experience + FREE honeymoon planning services when you email: [email protected]

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

Today we're giving your wedding ceremony the time and attention it deserves, in a detailed show that covers everything from choosing your officiant, to writing vows, selecting ceremony traditions, and more.

Your wedding ceremony is a HUGE deal!  These 20 minutes or so are the WHY of the entire wedding, and yet the ceremony can get obscured by the million other things on your mind as you're frantically planning this wedding.

Be sure to stick around until the very end when I share a bonus tip to make your first kiss photo even more WOW-worthy!

Other notes & resources:

• Set on having a loved one lead your wedding ceremony?  Don’t risk an under-prepared, cringe-worthy, awkward performance!  Give your "rookie" officiant everything they need to deliver your love-story based ceremony just like a pro by visiting: www.unboringofficiant.com/weddingplanningpodcast

• Are you in the Southern California area, and looking for an amazing officiant?  You can learn more about Bethel Nathan here.  Be sure to let her know that Kara from the Wedding Planning Podcast sent you ;)

https://www.ceremoniesbybethel.com/

Questions about today's show or stories you'd like to share?  Come find me on Instagram!  @weddingplanningpodcast

Cheers until next time,

Kara