Weddings 101

Planning a wedding from another state comes with unique challenges, but Bailey's Minnesota wedding proves it can also be an incredible experience. In this episode, I sit down with Bailey to discuss what it was like planning her hometown wedding while living in North Carolina.

From saying "I do" at Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery to celebrating with family and friends at her reception at The Capitol Room in St. Peter, Minnesota, to her vibrant pink and orange color palette and surprise lightsaber battle with her dad during their father-daughter dance, Bailey shares the thoughtful details that made her wedding uniquely her.

Bailey also shares how she selected her venues, managed a 175-guest wedding, worked with a wedding planner, navigated unexpected costs, and embraced a go-with-the-flow mindset when things didn't go exactly as planned. From rainy weather to timeline adjustments and the unexpected moments that naturally come with a wedding day, she reflects on how staying flexible and focusing on what truly mattered helped make the day memorable for all the right reasons.

Whether you're planning a hometown wedding from afar or simply looking for real-world advice from a bride who's been through it, this episode is full of practical tips, honest insights, and encouragement to help you plan with confidence.

Photo by: @malwitzphotography

Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: @chankaska.wines

Reception Venue: @thecapitolroom

Planner: liveyourdashevents.com

Videography: @syd.mmeyer & @lead.shots

Storytelling + Edit: @syd.mmeyer

Photography: @malwitzphotography

Episode music license code: YV8EDCMLZCSTJU5L

Your wedding venue will likely be one of the biggest expenses in your wedding budget, but choosing a traditional wedding venue isn't your only option. In this episode, I cover non-traditional wedding venues that can help couples save thousands of dollars while still creating a beautiful and meaningful celebration.

I discuss some of the most popular budget-friendly venue alternatives, including public parks, backyard weddings, community centers, vacation rentals, and private properties. You'll learn why these venues are often more affordable, what questions you should ask before booking, and how to determine whether the savings are worth the additional planning and logistics.

I also cover the hidden costs many couples overlook, including rentals, permits, insurance, restroom access, transportation, and alcohol policies. A lower venue rental fee doesn't always mean a lower overall wedding budget, and understanding the full picture can help you avoid unexpected expenses later.

Whether you're planning a budget wedding or simply looking for creative venue ideas, this episode will help you compare your options with confidence so you can choose the venue that best fits your budget, priorities, and wedding vision.

Episode music license code: YV8EDCMLZCSTJU5L

Planning your wedding isn't just about booking vendors. It's also about making sure everyone has the right information at the right time. Without a communication plan, it's easy to feel buried in emails, timelines, questions, and last-minute logistics, leaving you to feel like the project manager for your own wedding.

In this episode, I walk through how to create a wedding vendor communication plan that keeps everyone informed while reducing your own stress. We cover who should be the main point of contact, what information each vendor actually needs, when to send important updates, and how to avoid common communication mistakes that can create unnecessary confusion.

I also share how to organize a master wedding information document, explain which vendors should be communicating with one another, and offer practical tips for managing the busy final weeks before your wedding without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you're planning everything yourself or working with a coordinator, you'll leave this episode with a simple system to help your wedding day run more smoothly.

If vendor emails are starting to pile up or you're wondering how to keep everyone on the same page, this episode will help you feel more organized, more confident, and less stressed throughout the planning process.

Episode music license code: YV8EDCMLZCSTJU5L

Creating a wedding seating chart sounds simple, until you're trying to balance family dynamics, friend groups, plus-ones, venue layouts, and last-minute RSVP changes. For many couples, table assignments become one of the most unexpectedly stressful parts of wedding planning.

In this episode, I share practical strategies for creating a wedding seating chart that helps guests feel comfortable while keeping the process organized and manageable. You'll learn when to start planning your seating arrangements, whether assigned tables or open seating make the most sense for your wedding, and how to group guests together in a way that encourages natural conversation.

I also discuss how to navigate sensitive situations involving divorced parents, family tensions, friend group drama, and other common seating chart challenges. The goal isn't perfection. It's creating a thoughtful guest experience that allows your reception to run smoothly.

You'll also hear practical tips for organizing your seating chart digitally, planning for meal selections and vendor seating, leaving room for last-minute changes, and choosing a seating chart display that's both functional and easy for guests to navigate.

Whether you're planning an intimate celebration or a large reception, this episode will help you approach seating charts with more confidence, less stress, and a clear plan for keeping your guests comfortable and included.

Episode music license code: YV8EDCMLZCSTJU5L

Can you really plan a beautiful wedding and celebration for under $5,000? Megan did.

In this episode of Weddings 101, I sit down with Megan, a bride who planned an intimate wedding at Chapel Dulcinea in Austin, Texas, followed by a separate after-party celebration with family and friends, all for less than $5,000.

With just two months to plan before starting medical school, Megan and her husband focused on what mattered most: getting married surrounded by the people they love. Instead of a traditional wedding and reception, they hosted a family-only ceremony in the Texas Hill Country and celebrated with a larger Airbnb after-party a few days later.

Megan shares how she found creative ways to save money without sacrificing the experience, from DIY florals and affordable wedding attire to working with talented friends and newer wedding professionals. We also talk about planning a micro wedding, keeping guest counts manageable, finding vendors on a budget, and creating a wedding day that felt meaningful, relaxed, and completely true to who they are as a couple.

If you're planning a wedding in Austin, considering a micro wedding, or looking for ways to create a beautiful celebration without spending tens of thousands of dollars, this episode is packed with practical advice and real-world inspiration.

Photo by: @sarahphipps_photo

Vendors:

Ceremony Venue: @chapeldulcinea

Ceremony Music: @angelicstrings

Wedding Photography: @sarahphipps_photo

Wedding Dress: @ladypipa

Flowers & Wedding Supplies: @samsclub

Episode music license code: YV8EDCMLZCSTJU5L

Planning pre-wedding events can feel exciting, but also confusing once you start wondering which celebrations you actually need, who plans them, who gets invited, and how much everything is supposed to cost. In this episode of Weddings 101, Kyleigh Grace walks through the most common pre-wedding celebrations including engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, and bachelor parties to help couples understand what each event typically looks like and how to decide what feels right for them.

You’ll learn the purpose of each celebration, who traditionally hosts them, typical guest lists and timing, and how to keep these events meaningful without adding unnecessary stress or pressure. This episode also covers practical tips for communication, budgeting, guest etiquette, and setting expectations so everyone involved feels comfortable and included throughout the planning process.

Whether you’re deciding which events to have, helping plan one for a friend, or simply trying to simplify your wedding experience, this episode will help you approach pre-wedding celebrations in a practical, thoughtful, and stress-free way.

Trying to decide between hiring a wedding DJ or using a playlist for your reception? In this episode, I break down the real pros and cons of DIY wedding music versus hiring a professional DJ.

From reception flow and dance floor energy to ceremony audio, microphones, and hidden logistics couples often overlook, I walk through what a wedding DJ actually does and when a playlist can realistically work well. I also share practical tips for making a playlist setup successful and questions to ask your venue before you decide to DIY your music or to book a DJ.

Whether you’re planning a backyard wedding, a laid-back dinner reception, or a high-energy dance party, this episode will help you decide what makes the most sense for your wedding vision, budget, and stress level.

Should you do a first look before your wedding ceremony, or wait for the traditional aisle reveal? In this episode, I break down the emotional, practical, and logistical differences between first looks and traditional ceremony reveals so you can decide what truly fits your wedding day vision.

This decision impacts far more than just your photos. It can affect your wedding timeline, photography schedule, stress levels, cocktail hour experience, and even how calm or emotional you feel throughout the day. I walk through what a first look actually is, why so many couples choose them, and one of the biggest misconceptions brides hear online: that doing a first look somehow “ruins” the aisle moment. For many couples, the first look and the ceremony end up feeling like two completely different emotional experiences.

The episode also explores the benefits and drawbacks of both options, including why first looks can help reduce anxiety, create more private time together, and make timelines significantly easier, especially for winter weddings, large wedding parties, or venues with tight schedules. At the same time, I explains why many couples still deeply value the anticipation and emotional build-up of waiting until the ceremony to see each other for the first time.

You’ll also hear practical advice about photography timing, cocktail hour trade-offs, early morning getting-ready schedules, and how to decide what matters most to you as a couple. The episode includes alternative ideas like first touches, private vows, and reading letters without seeing each other, proving you don’t have to follow wedding traditions exactly as social media presents them.

Whether you’re fully decided or completely torn between the two options, this episode will help you think through both the emotional experience and the logistical realities so you can create a wedding day that feels meaningful, personal, and true to you.

Catering is one of the biggest expenses in wedding planning, and for many couples, it’s also one of the most surprising. If you’ve started getting quotes and are wondering why wedding food costs so much, you’re not alone.

In this episode of Weddings 101, I break down why catering is so expensive in the first place and, more importantly, how to save money without sacrificing your guest experience. I walk you through the biggest factors that impact your catering budget, including your guest count, your service style, and your venue restrictions, so you can make informed decisions from the start.

I also share a variety of affordable wedding catering options that couples use to cut costs, from buffet-style meals and brunch weddings to drop catering, food trucks, and bulk food ordering. Along the way, I explain how to decide if a plated dinner is worth the cost, how to simplify your cocktail hour, and how to choose budget-friendly foods that still feel elevated.

Whether you’re planning a large wedding or trying to stay within a tight budget, this episode will help you rethink traditional catering and find an option that fits your priorities. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by catering decisions, this episode will give you practical, realistic ways to feed your guests well without overspending.

Wedding vendor contracts can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not used to reading legal language. But understanding your contracts is one of the most important steps in protecting your wedding experience and avoiding miscommunication.

In this episode of Weddings 101, I break down how to read and negotiate vendor contracts in a way that actually feels manageable. I walk you through the key differences between venue contracts and vendor contracts, and explain why vendor agreements are more focused on services, expectations, and deliverables rather than just pricing.

You’ll learn the five most important areas to focus on in any vendor contract, including what’s included (and what’s not), timelines and deliverables, payment structures, flexibility, and backup plans. I also cover common mistakes couples make, like assuming verbal agreements are automatically included, and how to avoid them.

Plus, I walk you through how to ask for clarification or request changes in a way that keeps the conversation collaborative, not uncomfortable. If you’ve ever felt unsure about what you’re signing or nervous about negotiating, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to move forward.

Note: This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.