Wedding Planning Podcast

You’ve done months (maybe even YEARS) of wedding planning & preparation, and the big day is finally almost here!

Last stop?  Rehearsal dinner.

This week we’re reviewing everything you need to know for planning & hosting this extra special night with your family & friends.

We cover everything from the ceremony rehearsal itself to practical tips for hosting your loved ones afterwards.

DETAILED BLOG POST HERE --> www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/rehearsal

Naturally, I have a ton of creative alternatives to taking 50 of your closest friends & family out to eat at a nice restaurant ($$$).  Beyond just saving money, we’ll also cover:

• When to start planning (hint - it might be earlier than you think!)
• Personality-packed options for location and food selection
• Tips for keeping the night on pace and organized
• And meaningful touches that will be remembered beyond the wedding day.

This topic is so dear to me - I remember our rehearsal dinner as one of the most special nights of my life.  We grilled chicken, steak & veggies with our friends & family on the property where we got married, had all the fave drinks flowing, and a curated list of our favorite songs turned way up.  We laughed, talked & celebrated long past sunset, and it was a magical night. 

I wish all the same for you!

xo, Kara

Enjoy these special offers from today's show sponsors:

Shop Noemie for beautiful options for wedding bands, at the highest quality & lowest price anywhere!  Visit www.hellonoemie.com and use promo code WEDDING for $75 off any wedding band.

Email susan@susanstravelservices for FREE help planning the exotic honeymoon of your dreams, AND get $50 off your booking when you mention the WPP.

Save your sanity with tuxedo rentals from www.generationtux.com/wedplanning.  Use promo code "WEDPLANNING" for 10% off the entire groom's party & FREE grooms rental with 5 paid party members!

Today’s show is FULL of your questions on wedding day decorations and do it yourself wedding projects that you’re working on.

I’m sharing your questions from Instagram, and if you’d like to get in on future Q&A’s, all you need to do is follow @weddingplanningpodast on IG and keep an eye on the “Stories” feature along the top line where I share question prompts each week. 

You’re also always welcome to contact me directly with a DM, or by visiting wpp.co/contact

We're going to start with your questions about the wedding projects you're working on, and then in the second half of the show we’ll shift into specific questions about wedding day decorations.

A special thank you to today's show sponsors:

Visit zola.com/wpp for 30% off your wedding paper suite like invites, save the dates, menus, and thank you cards.

Visit joinhoney.com/wedding to install Honey in just two clicks!  Time Magazine calls Honey "basically free money" ;)

Email susan@susanstravelservices for FREE help planning the exotic honeymoon of your dreams, AND get $50 off your booking when you mention the WPP.

What’s cocktail hour without … cocktails?  Today we’re walking through an ultimate guide to everything you need to know about setting up a beer and wine bar for the wedding reception, rehearsal dinner, or any other event you host.

The savings in supplying your own bar are really quite stunning.  If your venue will allow you to bring in your own beer, wine, and / or liquor, then I beg you to consider this a top priority. 

And, as with all the things we’re going to cover - if the thought of you personally handling it is completely overwhelming and out of the question, then delegate it to someone else!  The bar is a perfect item to hand over to your fiance, a friend or a family member.  

The first step is to decide what you’re going to serve.  You could choose to do beer & wine only, add in a signature cocktail or two, or go full-blown with beer, wine and liquor for mixed drinks. 

And naturally, I know that there are couples who will opt for no alcohol to be served at all, and of course what we’re discussing today applies to non-alcoholic selections as well. 

I like beer & wine only for a couple reasons - it’s simple.  Cutting out liquor, mixers, and the drink accessories like limes, cherries, umbrellas - not to mention the added work for your bartender - is the main benefit. 

Listen in for so much more!

Unlimited access to 12 bonus episodes of the Wedding Planning Podcast for just $19?  Yes, please! 

www.weddingplanningpodcast.co/vault

Easiest sangria recipe ever (serves 6): 1 bottle inexpensive sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio, 1/4 C peach schnapps, any fruit you like!  Strawberries, apples & grapes work well.

Drink calculator here

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.  Stay tuned 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, rehearsal dinner, or any other party you host in the future.  Bookmark it, and share it with a friend who's helping you plan!

I hope you love it!

To join me in a special video presentation all about the benefits of hosting a Cocktail Wedding Reception, sign up for your FREE "Wedding Hacker Expo" pass at www.weddinghackerexpo.com . 

This event is perfect for you if you're considering hosting an abbreviated cocktail wedding reception, versus a larger, more elaborate and more EXPENSIVE wedding!

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

Buying fine jewelry has never been easier!  Save $75 on your wedding band from Noemie.  Visit www.hellonoemie.com and use promo code "WEDDINGPLANNING"

Is there something that's interfering with your happiness or preventing you from achieving your goals?  Get 10% off your first month of professional counseling from Better Help.  Visit www.betterhelp.com/wedding & use promo code “WEDDING".

Save your sanity w/ tuxedo rentals from www.generationtux.com/wedplanning.  Use promo code "WEDPLANNING" for 10% off the entire groom's party & FREE grooms rental with 5 paid party members!

Your wedding questions, answered!  Today we’re reviewing affordable wedding decoration ideas, juggling an invitation “B” List, managing guests’ dietary concerns, and more of your wonderful questions.

To get in on future Q&A’s, follow @weddingplanningpodcast on IG and shoot me a DM with what’s on your mind!  And please don’t be shy … I have an open door, I love to hear from you, and I promise to keep it anonymous when sharing on-air ;)

LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S SHOW:

• My fave tissue paper supplier
• Pinterest board full of inexpensive wedding decor ideas

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

Is there something that's interfering with your happiness or preventing you from achieving your goals?  Get 10% off your first month of professional counseling from Better Help.  Visit www.betterhelp.com/wedding & use promo code “WEDDING".

Get started with a free wedding website AND get a $50 registry credit when you visit www.zola.com/wpp.

Save your sanity w/ tuxedo rentals from www.generationtux.com/wedplanning.  Use promo code "WEDPLANNING" for 10% off the entire groom's party & FREE grooms rental with 5 paid party members!

Today we’re going to review 5 MORE creative ways to save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on your wedding.  I’m sharing FIVE on my favorite wedding money savers, from flowers, to venue, to decorations & more!

I thought it would be really fun and a huge *value bomb* to roll together TEN of my favorite money saving opportunities and share them in two detailed shows.  Last week we reviewed the first five, and this week in Part II, there are five more.

I’m 100% confident that we can trim at least $1000 off your wedding budget with these easy access money saving tips, and I can’t wait to hear the creative ways that YOU have found to keep costs in check - shoot me a DM on Instagram to share your money saving stories!  @weddingplanningpodcast

A special thank you to today's show sponsor, Noemie.  To save $75 on your wedding band, visit www.hellonoemie.com and use promo code "WEDDINGPLANNING".

Today we’re going to review 5 creative ways to save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on your wedding.  I’m sharing FIVE on my favorite wedding money savers, from food, to decorations, to your venue!

I thought it would be really fun and a huge *value bomb* to roll together TEN of my favorite money saving opportunities and share them in two detailed shows.  This week we’ll review the first five, and don’t go anywhere because next week in Part II, there are five more.

I’m 100% confident that we can trim at least $1000 off your wedding budget with these easy access money saving tips, and I can’t wait to hear the creative ways that YOU have found to keep costs in check - shoot me a DM on Instagram to share your money saving stories!  @weddingplanningpodcast

A special thank you to today's show sponsor, Generation Tux.  To save 10% on your wedding party tuxes, AND get a free tux for the groom with 5 paid party members, visit www.generationtux.com/wedplanning and use promo code "WEDPLANNING".

Join me for a detailed review of some last minute wedding details that you’ll want to stay on top of in the weeks & days leading up to your wedding day!

Even if your wedding is still months away, this show is perfect for you to proactively make notes about some of the things you can anticipate in those final weeks before the big day.

Thank you to everyone who sent in your questions on Instagram - I’m going to incorporate as many of those as possible into this first part of the show, and in the second half of today’s show, I’m going to share a personal story about the week before my own wedding.  It’s a cautionary tale for keeping your slate as blank as possible in those final days!

We’re also going to do a deep dive into creating your reception seating chart, which is a last minute task that can cause some huge headaches & stress.

If you have a wedding coming up this summer or fall, you’re starting to feel the heat on getting things wrapped up and organized, like your final RSVP’s, seating chart, final dress fitting, and a million other little details that snowball in those last few weeks.  

A detailed blog post / show recap of everything we reviewed can be found here.

Links to the Pinterest boards mentioned in today’s show:

• Wedding Place Card Table
• Wedding Planning Podcast Checklists

Your 5-star ratings & reviews of the podcast mean the world to me!  Leave a 60-second review in just one click here.

A huge thank you to today’s show sponsors:

To start your free wedding website and also get $50 off your registry on Zola, go to zola.com/wpp. 

Shop Noemie for beautiful options for wedding bands, at the highest quality & lowest price anywhere!  Visit www.hellonoemie.com and use promo code "WEDDING" for $75 off any wedding band

Save 10% on professional counseling services by visiting www.betterhelp.com/wedding with promo code “WEDDING”

What's a good starting point for our wedding plans?  What should we do first?  What dress code would be best for our guests?  Mixed gender bridal party tips?  Invitations, transportation, "DIY" catering?

Today we're reviewing your wonderful wedding questions in a fun, casual & value-packed Q&A!

To submit your wedding questions & ideas for future shows, shoot me a DM on Instagram --> @weddingplanningpodcast

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

• Design your own wedding newspaper, order FREE samples and enjoy 20% when you visit newspaperclub.com with promo code WEDDING
• Enjoy FREE honeymoon travel planning services from Susan & her team at Susan's Travel Services!  Email [email protected] and mention that you heard today's show for $50 off your booking.

I mentioned on Instagram last week that wedding troubleshooting is one of my super powers, and you really put me to the test with your questions on managing difficult family dynamics during your engagement. 

Today we’re going to power through a candid conversation on dealing with your most challenging family issues surrounding the wedding.

Managing your relationships with your family during your engagement can be incredibly challenging.  From misunderstandings & miscommunications with Mom, to dealing with estranged family members, choosing who to walk you down the aisle when you come from a complex blended family, who’s paying for what, who gets to invite who ... this list, as you can guess, goes on and on.

Well guess what - I have good news & bad news.

The good news is that when you get married, you assume an entire second family who will be there to love & support you in the years to come.

The bad news?  That second family comes with a whole new set of challenges & dynamics to navigate. 

Tune in to today's show for so much more!

A special thank you to today's show sponsors:

• Get a custom, made-to-measure suit for just $359 when you visit www.indochino.com and use promo code WEDDING
• Take advantage of up to $2500 interest-free financing when you visit www.zebit.com/wedding
• Enjoy $75 off your wedding band by visiting www.hellonoemie.com & using promo code WEDDING