Happy Holidays! Today I am rebroadcasting one of my favorite episodes.

Shopping for your wedding dress is one of the major moments where all of the pressures that are unique to a bride come together.

It's one of those moments that you think about as a child.

But it’s not just about the pretty dress,  it's all of these undercurrents that are happening too. It can be heartbreaking, stressful, and overwhelming but also poignant and memorable.

In this episode, we discuss the pressure of finding the perfect wedding dress and what that can make us feel like.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

The history of wedding dresses

How your wedding dress can make you feel

Why picking a wedding dress is so stressful

Society’s views on wedding dresses

Featured on the show:

Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/

Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com

Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching

Get your copy of the book,  Whispers to a Bride: https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1

What do you do when you are asked to be a bridesmaid and you said yes but as the wedding approaches you start to realize that you can’t do it?

Today I explore the strategies for having uncomfortable conversations and highlight the importance of coming to the table with a genuine approach and treating the issue as something that you and your friend can tackle together.

I also caution that the other person may have a devastating reaction to the news, and it's important to offer empathy and space for them to process their emotions.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

Navigating uncomfortable conversations

Shifting the dynamic from opposition to problem-solving

Explaining without blaming

Being prepared for a negative reaction

Featured on the show:

Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/

Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com

Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching

Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:

https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1

There are so many challenges with setting boundaries with family members during wedding planning.

Today we discuss a recent client call I had where we tackled the issue of navigating relationships during wedding planning. The bride in question faces a dilemma as she wants to go dress shopping with her mother but is concerned about upsetting her stepmother.

While it may be tempting to keep the peace and avoid confrontation, it's important to listen to ourselves and speak our truth, even if it feels uncomfortable. By doing so, we are creating a shift in the relationship dynamic and asserting our own needs and identity.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

The misunderstood complexity of wedding planning tasks

Navigating family dynamics during wedding planning

Setting boundaries with family members

Building self-trust and navigating difficult situations

Featured on the show:

Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/

Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com

Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching

Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:

https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1

I have been receiving inquiries from brides who are feeling overwhelmed and anxious just days before their wedding, expressing various feelings of disappointment, anxiety, and sadness about different aspects of their big day.

One of the reasons people may be hesitant to acknowledge their fears and stress as they approach important milestones is the fear that everything will fall apart if they admit to it. There is a worry that opening up will bring up too many unresolved issues that cannot be addressed before reaching their goal.

In this episode, I discuss the idea of spreading the burden by sharing thoughts with a trusted friend or engaging in journaling. Unloading everything can bring peace and clarity in a situation that may otherwise feel isolating, especially for brides. Releasing these emotions is healing and helps to regain peace and confidence.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

The power of venting and journaling

Healing through sharing

Holding both joy and sorrow

The importance of letting it out

Featured on the show:

Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/

Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com

Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching

Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:

https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1

There’s a lot of pressure to enjoy the wedding planning process, despite the overwhelming reality many brides face.

Everyone is telling you to enjoy it, but the experience may not always feel enjoyable or like the best time of your life. Those people who say "enjoy it" are often reflecting on their own experience and wishing they had fully embraced the complexity and sacredness of the journey.

In this episode, we discuss acknowledging the stress of planning a wedding and reassuring you that you are not alone.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

The disconnect between expectation and reality in planning your wedding

Feeling alone on your wedding journey

Finding joy in the stress

Embracing the beginning of a new chapter

Featured on the show:

Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/

Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com

Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching

Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:

https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1

Happy Thanksgiving! This week I am rebroadcasting one of my older episodes that I think you would love to hear again.

What is going on with weddings and the weight loss pressure brides have?

This is a question I received from someone on my bridal email list. We talk about what is going on with weddings and weight loss and why the pressure is so intense to be so thin on your wedding day.

In this episode, we discuss diet culture, capitalism, and patriarchy. We dive into how they work together when having a mindset of being thin on your wedding day.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

How worthiness is tied up in your weight

The different kinds of diet cultures and how they market to get you to spend your money on being thin for your wedding

Taking a pause and really thinking about why you want to be thin on your wedding day

Deciding to love yourself, accepting your body, and taking care of your body to be able to be at your best on your wedding day.

Featured on the show:

Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/

Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com

Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching

Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:

https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1

Weddings can also be viewed as performances, where couples may feel pressured to impress others or seek validation through social media.

I suggest reframing weddings as poems, emphasizing their brevity and ephemeral nature. Just like a poem with a few lines can be beautiful and impactful, a wedding is a concentrated emotional experience.

In this episode, we discuss how a wedding is an offering - a gesture of love and gratitude to our community, family, and friends. It doesn't have to be perfect or extravagant, but it should come from a place of abundant love.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

Why you should view your wedding as a poem

The power and structure of a wedding poem

How your wedding is experienced differently by everyone

The magic of your wedding

Featured on the show:

Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/

Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com

Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching

Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:

https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1

In this episode, we delve into the complexities of navigating relationships with in-laws during wedding situations where the groom finds himself caught between his family of origin and his new wife.

I emphasize the importance of understanding that strong emotions from the family of origin are normal during weddings, as they signify a changing family structure. However, the groom's desire to keep the peace by avoiding conflict only perpetuates the discord between the bride.

Effective communication, setting boundaries, and establishing individual relationships with in-laws are all vital components of successfully overcoming these challenges. I also stress the importance of reflection, forgiveness, and compromise in order to find common ground and maintain healthy boundaries.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

Navigating the tension and creating boundaries in relationships

Building trust with your in-laws

The importance of creating a harmonious agreement with your in-laws

Being on the same team as your husband

Featured on the show:

Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/

Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com

Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching

Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:

https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1

Weddings can be a whirlwind of emotions, and it's important to navigate them with self-awareness and self-compassion.

While it's natural to pour our hearts and souls into making our wedding personalized and unique, we must remember that it is just one day in our lives and should not define our entire being.

In this episode, we discuss how it's okay to look back on our wedding and realize that maybe we would have done things differently. This doesn't mean we made a mistake or messed up; it's a natural part of the learning process. Weddings offer us an opportunity to explore different themes in our lives and learn more about ourselves.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

Over identifying with your wedding

Celebrating the beauty of your wedding

Finding balance

Why being a guest at a wedding can help you have a deeper understanding of what goes into it

Featured on the show:

Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/

Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com

Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching

Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:

https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1

Today's topic is self-compassion, which is often dismissed as basic and cliché but is actually crucial for finding peace in relationships and alignment in wedding planning.

It is important to be kind to ourselves and explore the concept of self-compassion beyond the surface level self-care.

In this episode, we discuss the three components of self-compassion and the impact they can have on our emotional well-being.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

The importance of being kind to yourself

The key to peace and alignment

Finding comfort in shared experiences

Practicing mindfulness in wedding planning

Featured on the show:

Follow me on Instagram to learn more about navigating your wedding with grace and ease: https://www.instagram.com/karaghassabeh/

Check out The Bridal Prep Academy: https://karamaureen.com

Let’s connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraMaureenBridalCoaching

Get your copy of the book, Whispers to a Bride:

https://www.amazon.com/Whispers-Bride-handle-stress-drama/dp/B0BCRXBQFN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UXWJVJOF3MNI&keywords=whispers+to+a+bride&qid=1662643892&sprefix=whispers+to+a+bride%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1