Wed and Worth It

Planning your wedding and dreaming of a free honeymoon? In this episode, we’re breaking down how to maximize your credit card points while planning your big day — from paying vendors strategically to booking travel like a pro. We’ll share our favorite points hacks for engaged couples , the best cards to use for wedding expenses, and how to turn that dream honeymoon (or family trip) into a reality...

What happens when your $30K wedding budget turns into $80K? This New York couple planned their destination wedding in Mexico City from afar — juggling time zones, family flying in from the Philippines, and a catering team so good even Vogue took notice. In this episode, we talk about what really goes into planning a wedding overseas, how to balance food, family, and finances, and why sometimes the...

In this episode of  Wed and Worth It , Melissa sits down with Morgan, a 2023 bride and the creator of  Vows N Vibes , a refreshingly honest wedding planning community on Instagram. Morgan walks us through her wedding journey—from an unforgettable proposal in Brooklyn to the charming coastal celebration in Newport, Rhode Island. We dive into the realities of budgeting, the emotional rollercoaster o...

In this unforgettable episode of  Wed and Worth It , Melissa chats with newlyweds Siobhan and Bobby about their dazzling New Year’s Eve wedding in Westchester County. With a budget that expanded from $100K to $400K, the couple prioritized a Broadway-caliber band, phenomenal food, and an emotional, personalized guest experience—including a surprise 10-minute drone show. From vintage chairs to espre...

In this vibrant and deeply thoughtful episode of  Wed and Worth It , Melissa chats with Seets about her November wedding in Philadelphia—a celebration that blended Indian and Chinese cultures, bold artistic inspiration, and some serious color. From eloping in their living room with eight friends to a $300K event planned over 18 months, Seets shares the emotional, logistical, and creative highs and...

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of Wed and Worth It , Melissa sits down with Renee, a newlywed who shares the incredible 22-year journey that led to her luxe mountaintop wedding in West Virginia. From high school science class to long-distance love and a surprise proposal in Santorini, Renee walks us through every detail—from their black-tie ski resort venue to hiking Machu Picchu on their...

Planning a wedding in Hawaii? On this episode of  Wed and Worth It , we chat with Kate from Sunshower Weddings, a Big Island wedding planner with a background as a venue owner (and even a lawyer!). She shares the reality of planning destination weddings, the biggest budgeting mistakes couples make, and why hiring a planner with logistical expertise is a game-changer. From breaking down the hidden...

In this episode of  Wed & Worth It , Taylor shares her experience planning a destination wedding on Kiawah Island while navigating family expectations, budgeting, and the unexpected twists that come with wedding planning. From eloping in Nantucket to crafting a wedding that felt more like a luxe dinner party than a traditional event, Taylor dives into what mattered most to her and her husband—...

In this episode of  Wed &Worth It , Arizona wedding planner  Alicia from J-Starr Wedding Company  joins Melissa for an in-person conversation about all things wedding planning. From navigating vendor selection and budgeting to the most overlooked aspects of the big day, Alicia shares her expert insights and personal experiences. She also flips the script, putting Melissa in the hot seat with a...

In this episode of  Wed and Worth It , Melissa chats with Emma about her elegant and logistically complex New York City wedding at a historic museum. Emma shares her journey planning a $300K wedding in just 11 months, including how she navigated vendor selection, budgeting surprises (hello, $50K tent quote!), and the unexpected costs that come with a non-traditional venue. From her best budgeting...

In this episode of Wed and Worth It, host Melissa chats with Nikki from Love and Beauty Maui, a seasoned hair and makeup artist with over 20 years of experience. Nikki shares her journey from freelancing to owning a top beauty business in Maui, the differences in wedding trends between the islands, and what brides should know when booking hair and makeup for a destination wedding. She offers insid...

In this episode of Wed &Worth It, I chat with a bride about her dreamy Capri, Italy destination wedding. She shares how she and her husband chose this breathtaking location, the ups and downs of planning abroad, and how their $65K budget doubled to $123K. From navigating cultural differences to prioritizing the guest experience, she gives candid insights on balancing splurges with what truly m...

On this first vendor episode of Wed and Worth It, I talk to Trego the DJ who I’ve had the pleasure of working with several times. Trego is a DJ and mentor with a fresh take on what it means to experience the best day of your life. We talk about how he found his way to being a DJ,  trusting your vendors, and what it takes to create a magical and memorable experience for brides and grooms. Get Your...

On this episode of Wed and Worth it, I talk to a bride in Atlanta who opted for a smaller destination wedding in Scottsdale, AZ in lieu of a larger local wedding in Georgia. Ashley was determined to create an intimate, memorable wedding and stick to her budget of 50k, and with some determination and day-saving help from her planner - she did just that! Find out how, in this episode of Wed and Wort...

On this episode of Wed and Worth it, Melissa talks to a Scottsdale, AZ, bride about the choices she made in her wedding planning journey, what she thought was worth the spend, and if anything wasn’t . They talk about where the couple chose to invest more money, and why as well as money saving tactics (hello, travel points!) that helped along the way. This couple started off with a 50k budget and,...

Welcome to the Wed & Worth It Podcast. Have you ever wondered if all the wedding expenses and planning were worth it? Join us as we sit down with newlyweds who openly share their wedding investments, the ups and downs of wedding planning, and how they prioritized the decisions that shaped their big day. Through candid conversations, we ask the question every couple faces post-wedding: was it w...