Before I Do Podcast

Today, we're flipping the script! Instead of focusing on wedding planning or relationships, we’re diving into what it takes to be an amazing wedding guest. For all the future attendees, we’re here to help you brush up on guest etiquette, so you can show up ready to celebrate in style. And for couples, we’ll also talk about ways you can set your guests up for success, ensuring everyone enjoys...

In this episode, we're reminiscing about our wedding day as we share some lessons we learned along the way! Join us as we travel back in time to relive some of the most special moments of our big day and share a few things we might tweak if we had the chance to do it all over again. Don’t get us wrong—we loved every moment! But with the benefit of hindsight, here’s what we might approach just...

Did you enjoy the first half of our deep dive into seamless wedding planning? We’re back with Part 2 of this special episode of Before I Do , where we continue uncovering the often-overlooked logistics that can make or break your big day. If you or your fiancé are the type who wants every detail meticulously planned to ensure a stress-free celebration, this episode is for you! At Jackson and June...

Are you or your fiance the type who wants every detail flawlessly planned and thought out so your wedding day feels seamless and stress-free? If so, this episode of Before I Do is for you, as we dive into the lesser-known wedding logistics that can make or break your special day. This is Part 1 of 2, so stay tuned for more. We’ve been revising our wedding to-do checklists at Jackson and June Event...

Are you looking to build a strong relationship with your soon-to-be or future in-laws or strengthen the dynamic you’ve already built? If so, today’s episode is just for you, as we’re focusing on how you can proactively foster a strong relationship with your partner’s parents and family. It takes effort, but the rewards are worth it! We'll cover intentional strategies, practical tips, and shar...

With football season officially kicking off, Alex has been getting into the spirit by doing some fantasy drafts. That got us thinking... what if we did the same for weddings? Welcome to the Fantasy Wedding Draft ! In this episode, we’re bringing the excitement of football season to wedding planning. Here’s how it works: There are 11 key categories to make up your “wedding” or “team.” You’ll have t...

In this episode, we're diving into the stress of wedding planning and offering strategies to help you actually enjoy the process. Sure, you’ve seen the Pinterest tips about planning a date night where you don’t talk about the wedding—but we’re going deeper. How can you minimize the overall stress of planning instead of just pausing it for a few hours? From breaking things down into phases to...

Sending out Save the Dates is a significant milestone in your wedding planning journey—it's the moment your plans become public! In this episode, Sammy and Alex guide you through the essential planning steps you should aim to complete before your Save the Dates hit your guests' mailboxes. We’ll explore common questions, share expert tips, and discuss how couples typically navigate this p...

Welcome to episode #20! In this episode, we dive into the art of building a wedding registry that will help you build your life together—without ending up with stuff you don't need. We'll cover everything from the best places to register to how to decide what to put on your list based on your lifestyle and future plans. Alex and Sammy discuss the following highlights: Logistics of Buildi...

Welcome to Episode #19 of Before I Do! In today’s episode, we're diving into the ins and outs (as well as tips and hot takes) of planning a bachelor or bachelorette party. We’ll discuss figuring out what you want, setting expectations with your pals, and planning an unforgettable experience. It’s funny how our opinions on these parties have evolved over the years—what we thought was a blast i...

Welcome to Episode #18 of Before I Do! Alex is driving today’s episode as we are doing a "Groom 101" and what parts of the wedding they can jump into planning while having fun with it!  Alex is going to speak from the viewpoint of a groom, because that's his experience, but this is not exclusively for people who identify as grooms. No matter what role you play in the couple, you may...

Welcome back to Before I Do! This is Episode #17, and we’re thrilled to continue our summer series, "Let’s Hear It from an Expert!" In today’s episode, Alex and Sammy dive into an exciting conversation with our special guest, Valerie Flynn, owner of T3 Event Rentals! Valerie will share their journey and the ins and outs of their event rental business. T3 Event Rentals caters to various n...

Welcome to Episode #16 of Before I Do! Today we are continuing our summer series, Let’s Hear It from an Expert, and we have a treat for you guys. We have Kristen Curles from Epting Events! Epting Events is a catering & design company serving clients all over the Southeast, offering custom menus, but specializing in elevated Southern cuisine and beverages. Epting Events was founded by Lee Eptin...

Welcome to Episode #15 of Before I Do! We are continuing our summer series, Let’s Hear It from an Expert, and we have a treat for you guys! We have Casey Crogan from Atlanta Wedding Band (AWB) on today.  Atlanta Wedding Band is a tight-knit roster of friends, some of which have been playing together since high school, and Casey is one of the original members. With some of the best musicians and en...

Welcome to Episode #14 of Before I Do!  Today we are continuing our summer series, Let’s Hear It from an Expert! Today's expert is David Osborne with Sound Insight Productions and Athens DJ Service! And ya’ll, he and his teams are some of the best, although, we might be a little biased since David was OUR DJ at our wedding!  David and his teams are dedicated to providing “exceptional entertai...

Today we are continuing our summer series, Let’s Hear It from an Expert! Our expert today is Maggie Dunn with Maggie Dunn Photography and ya’ll, she is so great. She’s truly a “friendor” of our entire team! We just love working with her! We will be talking all things photography and how to select the right photographer for your big day.  Maggie is a wedding photographer, serving couples who want t...

 Today we are starting a fun summer series called Let’s Hear it from an Expert! Over the next few months, we’ll chat with some of our favorite pros about their specific crafts and services. We’re going to be getting the inside scoop, ins and outs, and their biggest pieces of advice for you, the engaged couple!  And today we’ve got one of our all-time favorites, Darian, from Araiza Florals! We&apos...

Not sure how to change your last name, where to start, or even when, once you’ve tied the knot? We’ve got this covered in today’s episode, with our very first guest! Alex Goldney from Nee Name Change is with us and she is going to help us walk through the process of changing your name after the wedding and not only that, but how to do it in style.  Use discount code “J&J10” for 10% off name ch...

We’ve got such a fun one today - we are going to talk about all things moving in together! I feel like it is such a relevant topic when wedding planning because a lot of couples are either doing this at the same time they are planning or they have just recently moved in together before getting engaged. Many of our couples will hop on calls and be like, “oh we were looking at houses this weekend” o...

It’s party time! We’re talking all about the pros, the cons, and best practices for both wedding DJs and bands!  The decision to hire a DJ or a band for your wedding is always a big one. And honestly, there is no right answer because each wedding and each couple is so different! So what we’re going to do is talk through pros and cons with each and some personal opinions to help you decide which op...

It’s DINNER TIME! We’re talking all about wedding dinner service today! Food is our favorite and we have a LOT of opinions here, so let’s jump right in.   Types of dinner service options at weddings: Buffet  Stations Served Meal Heavy hors d'oeuvres  Food trucks  We are going to talk through what we love, what we don't, and what we’ve seen work well for each of these service types.  Buff...

Today’s topic may be a heated one - unwanted opinions, advice, and conflicts that inevitably arise while planning.   We might get spicy here, as these are things that typically lead to some stress, uncomfortable conversations, and weird situations, but we think that when you’re getting married, you don’t have time for any of that noise. So, we’re here to help.  Please note - we don’t want to seem...

Honestly, the differences between a wedding coordinator and a wedding planner are foggy even among other wedding industry pros. And just a little caveat here, every coordinator/planner is a little bit different, but this is how most folks in the industry would describe the difference, and how we at J + J break it down. Let's start with 5 key descriptors of a coordinator. Coordinator (Event Ma...

The Venue Search Your venue determines your wedding date, location, and overall wedding style/feel. Things really start to feel real when you have a date and a venue! And while choosing your venue is super exciting, it can also majorly eat into your budget… unless you ask the right questions and ensure your venue dollars are providing a location, service, and a comfortable guest experience. Here a...

Today we are talking about Proposals! We’re going to actually walk through the process Alex went through to propose to Sammy, to maybe help someone out there who might be stuck on what to do first. We’re also going to share some fun proposal stats we gathered through polling our audience on Instagram: 66% of our audience was together 1-5 years before getting engaged and 7% less than a year!  47% o...