This Takes The Cake

Ever wondered what it’s like planning an event for TV instead of a wedding or party? 🎬💐 Join Jacque and Chris and Madelyn from Heritage Floral Design as they spill the behind-the-scenes secrets of working with a production team. From timelines, calls, and emails to budgets, layouts, and florals that look perfect on camera, they share what it really takes to pull off a flawless event when the cam...

Ever wondered what it’s like to work at Stunning & Brilliant Events? 💍✨ They spill the behind-the-scenes of what it’s like to be part of a luxury, nationwide wedding company, how franchising works, and what it takes to collaborate with Sara and other franchises. Plus, get a peek into S&B’s fun team culture, including their unforgettable trip to St. Martin, and hear all about the adventur...

Pop culture meets wedding magic! 💍✨ Join Payton and Caroline as they dive into all the ways movies, TV shows, celebrity love stories, influencer events, and classic literature inspire today’s weddings. From Wuthering Heights–inspired gothic romance to Bridgerton garden-party vibes, onscreen weddings that steal our hearts, and influencer-inspired monograms and guest experiences, we’re breaking do...

Lauren, our Chicago owner, and her husband Randy are sharing their real-life wedding story —and yes, they’re original Stunning & Brilliant wedding clients! In this episode, they talk about planning their own wedding over 10 years ago, launching the S&B Chicago franchise in 2020, and what it’s really like being married to a wedding planner. They also chat about life with their daughter Scar...

In this episode, Sara sits down with Preston Lee, founder of The 30% Rule and hospitality expert, to talk all things guest experience. From how they first connected to what makes an experience truly memorable, Preston shares insights that are just as valuable for wedding and event vendors as they are for brides, grooms, and anyone looking to elevate how they show up for others. Whether it’s leader...

In this episode of our March Guest Experience series, we’re pulling back the curtain on the things we don’t do — and why that actually makes your wedding better. Yes, we care deeply about your guests and the overall experience, but we’re not babysitters, security guards, chauffeurs, therapists, or miracle workers. From hiding exes to flipping entire receptions mid-event (true story), we’re sharing...

Wedding weekends are officially having their moment — and honestly, one day just isn’t enough anymore. In this episode, Sara and Madison break down why full wedding weekend celebrations are becoming the new must-have, especially for destination weddings and couples with lots of out-of-town guests. From welcome parties and after-parties to farewell brunches and “take the cake” experiences they’ve s...

Join Alyssa, our Charleston owner, as she sits down at the Moxy Hotel Charleston with Deme from our S&B Charleston team to talk all things room blocks, bachelorettes, and creating an elevated guest hotel experience for your wedding weekend. From choosing the right property for your crew to maximizing amenities, planning seamless welcome vibes, and turning your hotel into part of the celebratio...

Photographer Paula and videographer David join Sara on this episode of our Love Stories series to share how their separate journeys into the wedding industry eventually became a shared creative career. They talk about what drew them to weddings, how they navigate working side by side as a married photo + video duo, and the challenges and joys of building a business together. Along the way, they ge...

On this Love Stories episode, Madison chats with The Davey Duo — the DJ + photographer husband-and-wife team who met and got married at Wedding MBA. They share how a vendor conference turned into a wedding venue, what it’s like working weddings as a couple, and the moments that make it all worth it. If you love unique meet-cutes and insider wedding stories, don’t skip this one. Follow us on all th...

As part of our February Love Stories series, we’re sitting down with Alyssa, our Charleston owner, and her husband Ben to talk about love, family, and building businesses side-by-side. They’re sharing how they met in college while Alyssa was launching her wedding planning career, how Ben ended up owning our sister mobile bar company Leon or Lime CHS, and what life looks like now with their one-yea...

This episode is part of our Love Stories Series for February, where we’re celebrating love in all its forms — including building a life and business side by side. 💍📸 Host Jacque (Palm Beach) sits down with Kristy & Vic, a husband-and-wife wedding photography duo known for capturing joyful, timeless love stories while being the ultimate calm-meets-hype team on wedding days. From working toget...

In the final episode of our All Things New series, Jacque chats with Thomas Thorogood, a wedding special effects expert, about the latest innovations that can make your wedding unforgettable. From CO2 blasts to confetti and other modern “take the cake” moments, Thomas shares how couples can incorporate new trends to wow their guests and create Instagram-worthy experiences. Follow us on all the thi...

What’s next in weddings? We’re talking all things new for 2026. ✨Ashley P from our Charlotte office and Caroline from Tampa are sharing the trends they’re seeing emerge—from fresh design details to shifts in how couples are planning and celebrating. If you love being ahead of the curve (or just want to know what’s about to be everywhere), this episode is for you. Caroline Green & Ashley Pirig...

Nina and Alex break down how S&B is evolving with the times — staying on trend for our clients, using AI to save major planning hours, and still keeping every detail personal and intentional. From onboarding calls to new systems shaping how we work, this is your roadmap to planning smarter in 2026 without losing the magic. Nina Lerman & Alex Bradshaw Follow us on all the things! ⁠https://w...

In our first episode of 2026, Sara and Michelle are kicking off the year with all things NEW – starting with destination weddings! Michelle shares her wild Cabo wedding experience, from tricky weather and airport adventures to an unforgettable “this takes the cake” fire moment. Hear how she navigated planning a wedding somewhere she’d never been, the surprises along the way, and tips for planners...

We’re back for round two, and Producer Payton is not letting the office girls off the hook just yet. Part 2 dives even deeper into the moments that defined our year—the surprises, the shenanigans, and the stories that somehow didn’t make it into Part 1. If you thought the first half was good… buckle up. Part 2 brings the drama, the laughter, and the chaos we live for.

We’re kicking off our year-end recap by putting our office girls in the hot seat. Producer Payton is taking us back through the moments of 2025 that truly took the cake— the wins, the chaos, the “did that really happen?” and everything in between. Grab a snack, settle in, and get ready for the stories we absolutely had to share first. Part 1 starts now.

Eliza and Shelli sit down to spill the tea on one of their wildest weddings yet — where the bride and her mom wouldn’t even speak to each other (yep, everything went through the planner). From being the fourth planning team brought in to navigating family drama with grace (and maybe a little wine), this episode dives into what it’s really like to pull off a stunning event when emotions run high an...

In this episode, Jacque and Taylor answer the question every newly engaged couple asks: Where do you even start? They break down the wedding planning timeline step-by-step—from setting a realistic budget, guest count, and vibe, to which vendors you should book first (and why they matter the most), to the personalization phase with florals, entertainment, glam, and décor, all the way to month-of lo...

In this heartfelt episode, Palm Beach owner Jacque and Atlanta owner Madison open up about the tender side of wedding planning: celebrating a day of joy while missing someone you love. They discuss how grief can show up in unexpected moments, the balance of honoring someone without making the day feel heavy, and the deeply personal ways couples can keep their people close. Madison shares the meani...

Dallas and Caroline are back with a Halloween twist! In this episode, they dive into holiday weddings, share terrifyingly funny wedding moments, and spill behind-the-scenes stories you won’t believe. Hear about a bride who owed tens of thousands to a vendor just days before saying ‘I do,’ and the chaos of traveling to states they’ve never been to to cover a wedding. Of course, they do all of this...

From scroll-stopping reels to romantic wedding vibes, content creator Kenzie (@foreverafterinstantly) joins Bianca to talk all things viral, visual, and very dreamy. In this episode, they dive into how Kenzie built her aesthetic, the behind-the-scenes of creating wedding magic online, and the unexpected moments that truly took the cake. Expect inspo, real talk, creator tips, and one wild story tha...

Planning a wedding for someone you love—or someone who already knows the industry—is a whole different ballgame. Alyssa and Caroline sit down to share what it’s like to plan weddings for friends and fellow planners, how communication shifts when there’s history involved, and the unique challenges (and joys) of mixing business with personal relationships. They’ll spill on honesty, boundaries, emoti...

Ever wonder what it’s like to take over a thriving wedding planning business and make it your own? In this episode, Jacque chats with Ashley P, the fearless owner of Stunning & Brilliant’s Charlotte location. From her start in Charleston to leading an established market, Ashley shares the highs, the challenges, and a few unforgettable “This Takes the Cake” moments from behind the scenes. Tune...